KUCHING, Nov 11: Sarawak has recorded an increase of 269 percent (1,921) of dengue cases this year as compared to 520 cases over the same period in 2018.
Local Government and Housing minister Datuk Seri Dr Sim Kui Hian said, Malaysia has been experiencing nationwide increase in the number of dengue cases and Sarawak has ranked at number nine out of 13 states.
“Our state Health Department will continue to work closely with other non-health agencies to further reduce and prevent dengue cases in Sarawak,” said Dr Sim in his winding up speech at the State Legislative Assembly (DUN) today.
As for rabies, he said except Limbang, all the divisions are affected by the outbreak.
A total of 35,370 cases of animal bites have been reported to Sarawak Health Department since July 1, 2017 to Nov 8 this year.
Out of this number, 11,968 high risk cases have received vaccination.
So far, a total of 22 human rabies cases were recorded.
Meanwhile, tuberculosis (TB) is the highest cause of death in Sarawak in terms of infectious diseases.
Dr Sim said TB is also the second highest most common notifiable disease in the State.
“In the past decade, there was a sudden surge of TB cases reported in Sarawak. A total of 3,122 cases were reported in 2018 and this year, we have recorded 2,476 cases as at Oct 19.
“Sarawak Health Department is taking the steps to detect as many cases as possible through systematic screening and to start early treatment in order to halt and control the spread of the disease,” he said, adding that the department has formulated TB Control Programme 2019-2021.
The target, he said, is to streamline TB control activities with the aim to end TB epidemic by 2030 as targeted by the World Health Organisation. — DayakDaily
