Malaysia has reactivated the Cabinet Committee to Combat Dengue after the country witnessed a surge of over 400% in dengue fever cases this year. The move comes as the government seeks to address the rising number of dengue cases, which have increased to 26,222 compared to 8,124 during the same period last year, with deaths due to dengue fever complications also rising to 17 cases from four cases previously.

Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi announced the government’s plans to combat the disease at a press conference following a meeting of the Cabinet Committee to Combat Dengue at the Parliament building in Kuala Lumpur. The government will mobilise non-governmental organisations (NGOs) and volunteer doctors to make scheduled visits to districts or specific locations known for the spread of Aedes mosquitoes, the main vector for dengue fever.

The government’s approach will adopt corporate social responsibility (CSR) initiatives, such as mobilising assets of Nadma (National Disaster Management Agency) outside the flood season to ferry equipment for anti-dengue operations. Zahid expressed confidence that the unity government could achieve the zero dengue target by the end of its term, as the government was committed to the fight against the disease.

The government also plans to intensify the use of BioGel to trap and kill Aedes mosquitoes, and introduce a new method of using Wolbachia mosquitoes to fight against Aedes, which is generally cheaper. The government’s annual allocation for fighting dengue is RM240 million, but the government’s strategy is to use only one-eighth of this amount.

The committee has agreed to establish a high-level committee to combat dengue at the state level, which will streamline operations at dengue hotspots in districts, mukim, villages, and housing estates. The reactivation of the Cabinet Committee to Combat Dengue underscores the government’s commitment to addressing the surge in dengue cases and highlights the importance of public health measures to control the spread of the disease.

The Malaysian government’s intervention in combatting the spread of dengue fever is a positive step towards tackling the disease. With the government committed to a zero-dengue target by the end of its term, the measures announced are expected to have a significant impact on the country’s fight against the disease.

The post Malaysia Reactivates Cabinet Committee to Combat Dengue as Cases Surge Over 400%, Prompting Government Intervention appeared first on Health Matters.