SHAH ALAM: The number of dengue cases in Selangor has increased at an alarming rate since the end of the MCO as the social sector is now open as usual, the state legislative assembly was told.
Selangor public health, unity and women and family empowerment committee chairman Dr Siti Mariah Mahmud said this trend had been observed since the 46th epidemiological week, in which a total of 31,822 dengue cases were reported at the end of the epidemiology week that ended Nov 19.
“This is an increase of 131.5%, or 18,077 cases, compared to the same week last year, which recorded 13,745 cases,” she said yesterday when replying to a question from Harumaini Omar (BN-Batang Kali).
She said the state government allocated RM5mil every year for the eradication of Aedes mosquitoes to curb the spread of dengue fever, including programmes implemented with relevant agencies and departments.
“The state government is also using Bacillus thuringiensis israelensis (BTI) spray in hotspots, as well as drones, for hard-to-reach areas like rooftops of houses,” she added.
BTI is a biological or a naturally occurring bacterium found in soils, which contains spores that produce toxins that specifically targets mosquito larvae, among other insects.
“As of Oct 31, the state government has provided 2,000kg of BTI to 10 local authorities in an effort to encourage its usage in hotspots and public areas,” she said in a Bernama report.
Meanwhile, Selangor Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Amirudin Shari said some 14,649,397 doses of Covid-19 vaccines have been administered to the people of Selangor as of October.
He said 4,330,200 or 96.2% of the adult recipients received the complete dose, while 519,617 doses (91.6%) and 320,909 (43.9%) doses of vaccine were administered to adolescent groups and children, respectively.
“In addition, 4,069,818 or 89.4% have received the Covid-19 booster dose,” Amirudin said when replying to a question from Datuk Dr Ahmad Yunus Hairi (PAS-Sijangkang).
