On the lookout: A Health Ministry officer inspecting a residential area after a rise in dengue cases, in Saujana Utama, Sungai Buloh. It is suggested that Wolbachia mosquitoes or the dengue vaccine be used to lower dengue cases. — AZLINA ABDULLAH/The Star
PETALING JAYA: Malaysia reported a higher dengue caseload and deaths in the first eight months this year with the spike in cases attributed to the weather.
As of Aug 17, a total of 92,420 dengue cases were reported, according to the data from the Health Ministry’s iDengue website.
Comparatively, there were 75,928 cases reported in the week of Aug 13 to 19 last year.
Selangor reported the highest number of cases with 47,398.
This was followed by Johor with 9,983 and Kuala Lumpur with 8,392 cases.
On Aug 17 alone, a total of 302 cases were reported nationwide.
Prof Datuk Dr Azizan Abu Samah, a senior research fellow at the Institute of Ocean and Earth Sciences, said there is a correlation between the number of dengue cases and the weather.
“Usually, there is a good correlation between dengue numbers and temperature. There is also some lag between rainfall and an increase in dengue mosquitoes within a week after rain.
“So the month of July and August is usually when dengue mosquito numbers peak. Since the virus is endemic, an increase in mosquito numbers as carriers will correlate with a rise in dengue cases,” he said.
Prof Azizan said a drop in cases is likely when the weather gets cooler.
This, he said, can be expected when the northeast monsoon begins in October.
Prof Dr Sharifa Ezat Wan Puteh, a health economics and public health specialist with Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, said the fluctuation in the weather is conducive to larvae growth.
“Urban areas have many potential breeding sites such as construction sites and housing areas.
“With influenza and Covid-19 doing the rounds, dengue has taken a back seat.
“Hence, control of these few infectious diseases may have lessened our focus on dengue,” she said.
Prof Sharifa noted that the traditional fogging method may no longer be effective in killing mosquitoes.
“We need more effective methods to reduce harm such as using Wolbachia mosquitoes or administering dengue vaccine for children,” she said.
In April, Universiti Malaya’s Tropical Infectious Diseases Research and Education Centre (Tidrec) announced the clinical trial on Noden, a herbal remedy to combat dengue.
Tidrec executive director Prof Dr Sazaly Abu Bakar, when contacted, said the trial is currently ongoing.
“We are still actively recruiting volunteers. There is a shortage of dengue positive volunteers despite all the news about high dengue cases,” he said.
He urged that people avoid areas with high dengue cases and prevent themselves from getting bitten by mosquitoes.
The herbal remedy is reportedly made from an extract of the Scutellaria baicalensis plant, which is also known as Baikal skullcap.
The extract is said to be effective against all four types of dengue virus.
