KOTA KINABALU: In light of the upcoming monsoon season with more rainfalls predicted, the Sabah Health Department is urging the public to take preventive measures to combat dengue.
The state health director, Datuk Dr Asits Sanna, emphasized the importance of detecting and eliminating hot spots around premises, as well as conducting gotong-royong (community clean up) in residential areas as part of the preventive measures.
According to Dr. Asits Sanna, the Meteorological Department of Malaysia has forecasted increased rainfall during the north-east monsoon period from January to February this year.
He also stressed the importance of protecting oneself from mosquito bites using repellants and aerosol sprays during peak mosquito activity times, which are early morning (5-7am) and evening (5-7pm).
Furthermore, the public is advised to seek early treatment at health facilities if they experience dengue symptoms such as fever, joint pains, severe headache, and pain behind the eyes.
Dr. Asits also recommended using the iDengue app or visiting the website https://idengue.mysa.gov.my/ to stay updated on the latest information about dengue.
This reminder comes after the recent death of an 18-year-old boy from Tuaran due to dengue complications on Dec 28.
Despite initially experiencing vomiting and heartburn during his first hospital visit, there were no other dengue-related symptoms mentioned. His condition worsened, and he ultimately passed away at the Intensive Care Unit in Queen Elizabeth Hospital (QEH) the following day after being diagnosed with dengue.
Dr. Asits also highlighted a 1.8% decrease in dengue cases in 2023 compared to 2022, with 6,983 cases reported. However, there was a 10% increase in dengue-related deaths, with 11 recorded in various districts.
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