By Alang Bendahara
SHAH ALAM, March 18 — Selangor has recorded 4,211 cases of dengue during the epidemic week 9 (until March 5) this year, said state executive councillor for public health Dr Siti Mariah Mahmud.
She said this represents a 35.9 per cent increase compared to the corresponding epidemic week in 2021, which recorded 3,099 dengue cases.
“A total of 15,741 cases were recorded for 2021,” Dr Siti Mariah told the Selangor State Legislative Assembly, here today.
She was responding to a query from Kuala Kubu Bharu state assemblyman Lee Kee Hiong on the number of dengue cases in Selangor for 2021 and 2022 and the effectiveness of the Wolbachia-infected mosquitoes to fight dengue.
Lee was unable to attend today’s session, and the question was asked on her behalf by Subang Jaya state assemblyman Michelle Ng Mei Sze.
Dr Siti Mariah said as of February 23, the use of Wolbachia-infected Aedes mosquitoes as a form of biological control to curb dengue has been implemented in 18 localities within the Gombak and Petaling districts.
She said eight of the localities are under the supervision of the Institute for Medical Research (IMR).
“Analysis of dengue cases indicated the reduction of dengue cases for these localities was 77.8 per cent, with the last achievement of the Wolbachia frequency in the range of 22.81 to 100 per cent,” she said.
However, Dr Siti Mariah added that dengue control’s effectiveness depends on the Wolbachia frequency’s sustainable achievement, which must be over 80 per cent.
“So the community needs to work with the health authorities to ensure the sustainability of Wolbachia’s achievements,” she said.
