Selangor top in dengue cases last week

Selangor recorded the highest number of dengue cases at 748 in the 39th epidemiological week (ME 39) from Sept 25 to Oct 1, says health director-general Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah.

It was followed by Sabah with 173 cases, Kuala Lumpur and Putrajaya (163), Johor (131), Negeri Sembilan (46), Penang (42), Kedah (40), Kelantan (33), Pahang (31), Perak (24) ), Sarawak (13), Melaka (11), Terengganu (three) and Perlis and Labuan (one each).

"In ME 39, the number of dengue fever cases reported was 1,460 compared to 1,533 in the previous week, which is a decrease of 73 cases. Two deaths were reported in ME 39 in Sabah," he said in a statement today.

He said the number of dengue hotspots continued to increase from 48 localities in ME 38 to 55 in ME 39. Of these, 33 are in Selangor, followed by Sabah (16) and Kuala Lumpur and Putrajaya (six).

Meanwhile, Noor Hisham said chikungunya surveillance recorded three cases in ME 39, all in in Selangor, bringing cumulative chikungunya cases to 649.

For Zika surveillance, a total of 1,488 blood samples and 15 urine samples were screened and all were negative.

Noor Hisham also advised all parties to ensure their areas are free from mosquito breeding grounds, especially during the transition phase of the northeast monsoon from Oct 3 to early November which causes heavy rain and strong winds.