JOHOR BARU: Johor recorded an increase in cumulative dengue cases in epidemiology week 38 (ME38), with 7,543 cases against 2,272 cases in the corresponding period in 2022.
The state health and unity committee chairman said this showed a 232% hike in cases, with 3,059 cases (40.6%) being epidemic locality while 4,488 (59%) cases were non-epidemic locality.
"ME38 witnessed a hike in new dengue cases with 234 as of Tuesday (Sept 26) compared with 185 cases in ME37," said Ling Tian Soon.
Ling said Johor Baru district has the highest number of cases, with 178, followed by Kulai (19) and Segamat (11).
He said Batu Pahat, Kluang, Kota Tinggi and Tangkak recorded five cases, Muar had three, Pontian with two, and Mersing recorded one.
He added there were 12 cumulative deaths from ME01 to ME38 this year compared with one death in the corresponding period 2022.
"We have issued 4,373 compound notices totalling RM2.16mil so far this year to premises owners found to be breeding places of Aedes mosquitoes, and 62.6% had paid the fines," said Ling.
On the Covid-19 situation in the state, he said there were 400,910 cumulative cases as of Sept 26, 2023, of which 397,848 were local infections while 3,062 were imported cases.
"Currently, six Covid-19 patients are being treated in hospitals, and no patients have been admitted to the intensive care unit," said Ling.
He said Johor did not record a drastic increase in Covid-19 cases for the past few months, and the hospital bed usage for the Covid-19 patients was below 1%.
Ling said the state recorded 492 cases of Covid-19 Subvariant XXB as of Sept 23, 2023 with 272 cases in Johor Baru, Muar (61), Kulai (41), Batu Pahat (35), Kluang (25), Kota Tinggi (24), Pontian (16), Tangkak (14), Segamat with three cases and one in Mersing.
"The Covid-19 situation in Johor is under control, although there are cases of the Covid-19 Subvariant XXB in the state," he said.
Ling also advised those who have not received the booster dose of the Covid-19 vaccine to immediately register and get the vaccine to protect themselves and their families.
