31 Mar 2019 | 11:52 PM UTC
Malaysia: Dengue fever outbreak continues nationwide late March /update 6
Dengue fever outbreak continues nationwide; 36,499 cases reported as of late March
Event
Health officials have reported 36,499 cases of dengue fever between January 1 and March 31. The states of Selangor, Kuala Lumpur, Penang, and Johor remain most affected by the outbreak. Authorities are continuing to implement public health measures, including fumigation campaigns aimed at eliminating mosquito breeding grounds, to hinder the further spread of the disease.
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 measures to protect themselves from mosquito bites - e.g. 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 fresh water, such as rainwater that has collected in cans, bottles, tires, flower pots, clogged gutters, etc.).
