Malaysia: Authorities warn of expected increase in dengue fever cases on June 15 /update 26

Event

On Monday, June 15, Malaysian authorities warned of an expected increase in dengue fever cases between the months of June and September. The warning comes following a weekly average increase in cases of eight percent over the past eight weeks. The same period last year saw 56,819 dengue cases and 88 associated deaths.

As of Saturday, June 13, there have been 50,511 reported cases of dengue fever in Malaysia this year, with 88 associated fatalities. Further spread of dengue fever is to be expected in the near term.

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.).