Nearly 2,000 weekly dengue cases recorded

The number of dengue fever cases reported during the 18th epidemiological week (ME 18) from April 30 to May 6 increased by 10.2% to 1,956 cases, from 1,775 during the previous week.

Health director-general Dr Muhammad Radzi Abu Hassan said two deaths due to dengue fever complications were also reported during the week.

He said the cumulative number of dengue fever cases reported so far is 38,933 cases compared to 13,650 cases for the corresponding period last year, an increase of 185.2%.

"A total of 24 deaths were also reported compared to seven during the same period in 2022," he said in a statement.

He said 87 hotspot localities were reported this week compared to 103 in the previous week with 49 localities in Selangor, followed by Penang (19), Sabah (seven), Kuala Lumpur and Putrajaya (five).

Three each were reported in Kedah and Perak, and one in Johor.

Meanwhile, in terms of chikungunya surveillance, Radzi said three cases were reported in ME 18, one each in Kedah, Melaka and Johor.

"This brings the cumulative number of chikungunya cases to 127.

"A total of 1,029 blood samples and 41 urine sample were tested for zika surveillance, and the results were all negative," he said.