Johor, Malaysia witnesses a 28% surge in Dengue fever cases

Johar, The Gulf Observer: During the 52nd Epidemic Week of last year (Epid Week 52/2023), which concluded recently, Johor witnessed a surge in dengue fever cases, totaling 311 reported incidents. This marked a notable increase of 28 percent in comparison to the preceding week, where reported cases stood at 243. Ling Tian Soon, the Chairman of Johor’s Health and Unity Committee, emphasized the significance of addressing this uptick in dengue cases, highlighting the importance of proactive measures to curb the spread of the disease. The data underscores the need for heightened public awareness and collaborative efforts to effectively manage and mitigate the impact of dengue fever in the region.

During the past week, the distribution of reported dengue cases in Johor reveals that 27.7 percent, amounting to 86 cases, emanated from epidemic localities, while 72.3 percent, totaling 225 cases, originated from non-epidemic areas. Johor Baru district exhibited the highest number of cases, contributing 251 instances, trailed by Kulai with 32 cases and Kluang with 12 cases. Additional districts reported lower case numbers, with Muar at five cases (1.6 percent), Kota Tinggi at four cases (1.3 percent), Batu Pahat at three cases (1 percent), Pontian at two cases (0.6 percent), and Tangkak and Segamat each reporting one case, each representing 0.3 percent. Ling Tian Soon, the Yong Peng assemblyman and Chairman of Johor’s Health and Unity Committee, highlighted a noteworthy observation of 29 new outbreak localities reported in Johor Baru (93.1 percent) and Kulai (6.9 percent) during Epid Week 52/2023. Importantly, no fatalities were reported during this period, emphasizing the need for continued vigilance and preventive measures in addressing the dengue situation in the region.