Malaysia: Dengue fever outbreak infects over 2700 people in two weeks as of April 22 /update 25

Event

On Wednesday, April 22, Malaysian authorities reported that a severe dengue fever outbreak concentrated in Selangor, Johor, and Kuala Lumpur had infected 2725 people between Thursday, April 2, and Friday, April 17. The high number of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) and dengue infections in the areas is reported to be severely straining the health-care system.

Malaysia had reported 37,840 cases of dengue fever between Sunday, December 29, and Sunday, April 19. Selangor is the worst-affected region, with 22,826 cases recorded over the period, while Johor and Kuala Lumpur have recorded 3106 and 2845 cases, respectively.

Further spread of dengue fever is to be expected in the areas over the coming weeks.

Context

Symptoms of dengue fever include fever, headache, muscle and joint pain, fatigue, nausea, and rashes. Dengue Hemorrhagic Fever (DHF) is a potentially deadly complication that is characterized by high fever, the enlargement of the liver, and hemorrhaging.

Advice

Individuals in Malaysia are advised to take precautionary measures to protect themselves from mosquito bites - for example, by wearing covering clothing, using insect repellent, and sleeping under mosquito netting or in an air-conditioned room - and to eliminate possible mosquito breeding grounds (e.g. small pockets of freshwater, such as rainwater that has collected in cans, bottles, tires, flowerpots, clogged gutters, etc.).