Malaysian state on alert after hike in dengue cases

G. Palanivel, parliamentary representative for the Hulu Selangor district in the state, said that hospitals and clinics have been ordered to go into operation 24-hours in light of the seriousness of the situation.

"We are pressing the red button because the situation is dangerous," he was quoted as saying by the New Straits Times daily.

A total of 385 cases have been reported from January to June. For the whole of 2006, only a total of 461 dengue cases were recorded in the district.

Palanivel said the main reasons for the high number of dengue cases were illegal dumping, floods, potholes and ponds that became breeding grounds for the dengue-carrying Aedes mosquito.

"It is necessary to sound the alarm to raise the level of awareness among the people and agencies of the dengue outbreak here," he said.

Nationwide, a total of 24,808 suspected dengue cases were reported from January to June, the Health Ministry said. A total of 52 deaths nationwide have also been recorded.

In 2006, there was a total of 38,556 cases, with 83 deaths.

The government has stepped up efforts to stem the rise of dengue cases, including holding campaigns to educate the public as well as conduct checks on residential and construction sites.

Symptoms of dengue are high fever and rashes. If not detected and treated early, the disease can be fatal.//(Deutsche Presse-Agentur/DPA)