Dengue Claims 13 Lives In Malaysia This Month

Dengue fever has claimed 13 lives in barely one month in Malaysia this year, a senior health official said Wednesday.

Deputy Health Director-General Ramlee Rahma said five more dengue fever deaths were reported in Selangor state in the third week of this year, bringing the total death toll to 13 nationwide.

In the third week this January, Malaysia has reported 1,423 suspected cases, of which 403 have been confirmed as dengue fever.

Ramlee said Selangor and Kuala Lumpur remained the places with the biggest number of cases reported.

For the third week of this month, Selangor reported 574 suspected cases while Kuala Lumpur recorded 312 cases, Ramlee said in a statement released here.

The health ministry has carried out several preventive and control measures throughout the country, especially in the two hot spots, said Ramlee.

He added the ministry is still distributing the pesticide free to the public and has also roped in 60 health officers from other states to help contain the cases in Selangor and Kuala Lumpur.

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Dengue fever, a viral infection transmitted by mosquitoes, mostly hits tropical and sub-tropical regions. Its symptoms include high fever, nausea, rashes, backache and headaches. The hemorrhagic variant, which causes severe internal bleeding as blood vessels collapse, is often fatal.

Source: Bio-Bio Technology
SRI