Fighting the dengue menace in Kajang

The Star, Friday March 14, 2014

by christina tan

Squad members cleaning up the streets of Sungai Chua new village.

A GROUP of volunteers in Kajang who have been providing community services to the public in the Hulu Langat district have extended their services to fight the dengue menace.

Wong Fa Tuo Voluntary Service chairman Jackie Cheng said they decided to provide some assistance instead of solely relying on the Health Department to control the mosquito population in the area.

He said the recorded number of dengue cases was quite high in the district.

“We went for training organised by the department to learn about fogging techniques and the handling of chemicals,” he added.

Cheng said they would have to spend about RM200 for each fogging operation, adding that the expenses were provided by donors.

“Most of the places that we cover are schools and residential areas,” he said.

“The voluntary service, formed five years ago, currently has about 20 members.”

Cheng hoped to see all Kajang residents play a role in preventing the spread of dengue.

“What we are doing now is too small.We hope all residents will work as a team and clean up their own premises and not throw rubbish indiscriminately,” he said.

MCA vice-president Datin Paduka Chew Mei Fun said dengue remained a major concern among the people in Kajang, which is one of the worst-hit areas in Selangor.

As of February, she said the district had recorded 2,438 dengue cases with four fatalities.

The Barisan Nasional candidate for the Kajang by-election expressed hope that everyone would work together to clean up their areas.

“We have to pay more attention to cleanliness, especially clogged drains with stagnant water that become breeding ground for mosquitoes.

“We can never solve the dengue issue if we do not clean up our own areas,” she said during a gotong-royong at Sungai Chua new village in Kajang.

The activity was participated by MCA’s Crisis Relief Squad members from various states.

Dengue cases skyrocket

The Star, Saturday January 25, 2014

by zora chan, neville spykerman, chew wan ying, AND audrey lye

KAJANG: There has been an alarming rise in dengue cases in the country – more than three times the number recorded over the same period last year.

As of Wednesday, a total of 6,155 cases were reported, an increase of 243% over the same period in 2013.

The number of deaths has also doubled, with 10 reported so far compared with only five in January last year. 

Health Minister Datuk Seri Dr S. Subra­maniam said Selangor had the most number of dengue cases with 3,168, making up 51% of the total number of cases.

“Two of the 10 deaths were in the Hulu Langat district,” he told reporters after a visit to dengue hotspots here yesterday. 

Kuala Lumpur and Putrajaya recorded 666 and 502 cases respectively. There were 333 cases in Negri Sembilan, Malacca (241), Kelantan (173), Penang (166), Sabah (110), Terengganu (100), Sarawak (85), Kedah (66), Pahang (53) and Perlis (20).

He said the sharp increase of cases was worrying and urged the public to be more vigilant in ensuring homes and surroundings were not breeding grounds for Aedes mosquitos. 

“Generally, people are highly aware of the dangers of dengue but they tend to overlook places that may turn out to be Aedes breeding grounds,” he said. 

The latest figures indicate that the rise in dengue infections might be worse this year, if efforts to destroy the Aedes mosquitoes were not intensified,

A total of 43,346 cases were recorded last year, with 92 deaths.

“Selangor had the highest number of cases with 23,852 or 55% with 25 deaths,” Dr Subramaniam said, adding that Petaling, Hulu Langat and Gombak districts had been categorised as dengue hotspots.

More than four million premises were checked nationwide and about 15,000 compounds were issued amounting to RM7.7mil. 

“The ministry will step up its efforts, particularly in dengue hotspots through its on-going Ops Gempur Aedes, to destroy mosquito breeding grounds,” said Dr Subramaniam. 

“From Jan 1 to 22, about 168,000 premises were checked nationwide and 411 compounds were issued with the fines amounting to RM205,500,” he said. 

the measures being taken to address the dengue menace includes biological control using Bacillus thuringiensis israelensis (a type of bacteria) spray to kill mosquito larvae. 

“We will use more temephos spray (a pesticide) to kill larvae and adult mosquitos, and autocidal traps (a new method to trap and kill larvae and mosquitos),” he said. 

The ministry’s Vector Borne Disease Sector head Dr Rose Nani Mudin told The Star that the increase in dengue cases was due to various factors. 

“Of late, there have been more cases globally and the disease is being spread faster because of human mobility. 

“Another factor is the weather. Rainwater collected in rubbish bins, even as little as one teaspoonful, is enough for Aedes mosquito to breed,” she said.

Dr Rose said about 70% of Aedes breeding grounds were in residential areas as the mosquitos were attracted to highly populated areas.

Health Ministry Takes Drastic Measures To Stem Dengue - Subramaniam

KAJANG, Jan 24 (Bernama) -- Beginning this week, the health ministry will take drastic measures to stem the spread of dengue when it introduces three new methods, said minister, Datuk Seri Dr S. Subramaniam.

He said the methods comprise the spraying of Bacillus thuringiensis israelensis (Bti) spaces, temephos spraying (Abate 500E) and autocidal trap to trap and kill the mosquito larva and mosquitoes.

He said the methods would initially be used in the Petaling district of Selangor.

"Last year, Petaling district recorded the highest number of dengue cases, accounting for 22 per cent of the total 23,852 cases in Selangor, and 55 per cent of the 43,346 cases nationwide."

Dr Subramaniam said this at a media conference after visiting a dengue 'hotspot' in the vicinity of the Kajang main market here today.

He said 6,155 dengue cases were reported nationwide from Jan 1-22, this year, involving 10 deaths.

This was an increase of 4,363 cases or 243 per cent as compared to only 1,792 cases for the same period last year, at five deaths.

Selangor reported 3,168 cases, accounting for 51 per cent of the total cases nationwide during the same period, with Hulu Langat district reporting 936 cases, including two deaths or 15 per cent of cases in the state.

Meanwhile, Dr Subramaniam, who is also MIC deputy president, declined to comment on newly-appointed MIC treasurer-general Datuk R. Ramanan, who was ordered by the High Court yesterday to return RM5.5 million to psychiatrist Tan Sri Dr M. Mahadevan.

"The issue depends on party president Datuk Seri G. Palanivel to make a decision," he said.

-- BERNAMA

Parents advised to keep children home temporarily

The Star, Friday March 29, 2013

By STUART MICHAEL
metro@thestar.com.my

PARENTS have been advised to temporarily stop sending their children to a kindergarten in Taman Kajang Prima after five children were diagnosed with hand, foot and mouth disease (HFMD).

This followed an isolated HFMD case in Kajang last week.

State Health Department director Datuk Dr Azman Abu Bakar said his team was already on the ground giving out pamphlets to parents whose children had been diagnosed with HFMD.

“Our health officers have talked to the parents and advised them not to send their children to school until a thorough investigation is made.

“We are investigating the matter and will visit the kindergarten to see what could have transmitted the HFMD.

“Then, we will talk to the kindergarten operator to see how we can avoid this from happening in the future.

“Our health officers will ensure that the kindergarten is throughly cleaned as it is now the school holidays and the building is empty.

“The final option is for the kindergarten to close its doors for a short period and not allow any children to be sent there until it is safe,” Dr Azman said.

Four districts in Selangor - Petaling, Klang, Gombak and Hulu Langat - have recorded the highest number of cases of HFMD.

“For 2013, 155 cases were reported in Selangor between Feb 24 to March 2.

“Now, it has increased to 179 cases throughout the state,” added Dr Azman.

Ragesh Rajendran said his six-year-old daughter Sanjyanaa, who was at the kindergarten in Taman Kajang Prima, had tested positive for HFMD last Sunday and was now recovering. He was thankful that the infection was not too serious and said the principal had told him there were two other cases reported at the kindergarten.

“When I went to the clinic here, the doctor told me there were five similar cases.

“My one-year-old nephew was diagnosed with HFMD on March 26 and had to be put immediately on drip at KPJ Kajang because it was a more serious case.

“The toddler is still in the hospital recovering. The kindergarten is still open despite the school holidays. I feel the Health Department should take stern action against the kindergarten operator and close it down temporarily until a thorough investigation is carried out,” he said.

HFMD detected in Kajang

The Star, Thursday March 28, 2013

By EDWARD R. HENRY
edward@thestar.com.my

 

 

FIVE children in Taman Kajang Prima, Kajang, have been tested positive for hand, foot and mouth disease (HFMD).

The five children, all under the age of six, presented minor ulcers in the mouth and experienced mild fever.

Selangor health committee chairman Dr Xavier Jayakumar, however, said it was an isolated case.

“We understand that the children’s symptoms have improved and they will recover soon.

“At this moment, we have not determined where they contracted the disease,” he said, playing down the threat of an outbreak.

Dr Xavier added that all precautions were being taken to prevent an outbreak.

“If they contracted the disease from kindergarten before it closed for the school holidays, then health officers will ensure that the premises are thoroughly cleaned.

“Health inspectors will also emphasise hygiene education for parents and kindergartens,” he said.

HFMD is a viral infection and is not linked to the foot and mouth disease that affect animals.

It is mainly seen in children under the age of 10 or in young adults. HFMD can easily spread from one person to another and is caused by a group of viruses known as enteroviruses.

Symptoms usually start three to seven days after infection and can last between seven to 10 days.

Most cases receive outpatient treatment and hospitalisation is rarely needed.

Dr Xavier said HFMD was spread by touching the fluid from inside the blisters and fluid from the nose, mouth and chest via sneezing and coughing.

“Washing hands after touching these bodily fluids is one method to prevent the spread of HFMD. Those affected should not share cups, towels and clothing to help reduce the spread.

“Children diagnosed with HFMD must be kept at home until all the blisters have dried up,” he said.