DENGUE/DHF UPDATE 2003 (01)
***************************
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In these updates:
[1] Malaysia (Kuala Lumpur)
[2] Malaysia (Selangor)
[3] Malaysia (Kelantan)
[4] Malaysia (Sarawak)
(5) Malaysia (Johor)
[6] Bolivia (Santa Cruz)
[7] Dominican Republic

******
[1]
Date: Tue 31 Dec 2002
From: Pablo Nart <p.nart@virgin.net>
Source: Agence France Presse (via Newsline), Mon 30 Dec 2002 [edited]


Malaysia: 54 Deaths Due To Dengue Fever; WHO Declares Alert
--------------------------------------------------
Dengue fever has claimed 54 lives this year, with 10 753 confirmed cases 
reported nationwide, a senior health official said on Mon 30 Dec 2002. 
"Malaysia is currently experiencing an increase in the number of cases 
compared to last year, but it has not reached the epidemic stage," S. 
Sothinathan, the Health Ministry parliament secretary, told Agence France 
Presse (AFP). Last year, Malaysia posted 50 deaths and reported 8669 dengue 
cases. Sothinathan attributed the rise in deaths to the current situation, 
in which Malaysia is facing intermittent rainfalls and hot weather, both of 
which encourage mosquito breeding.

The World Health Organisation (WHO) had issued an alert about 5 months ago, 
warning all countries in the tropical region including Malaysia to be 
prepared for an increase in the number of dengue cases in view of present 
weather conditions, [Sothinathan] said. Lim Kit Siang, chairman of the 
Chinese-dominated Democratic Action Party, had urged the government to 
declare a nationwide alert. Lim urged the government to launch a media 
campaign immediately to boost national awareness and curb the loss of any 
more lives. Children have suffered more fatalities than in previous years.

Malaysia, a tropical country, experiences frequent rainfall, ideal for the 
_Aedes_ mosquito (which carries the dengue disease) to breed. Sothinathan 
said that firm action would be taken against offenders who fail to clean 
their surroundings, especially construction sites, which are favourite 
breeding grounds for mosquitoes. In September 2002, Malaysia placed its 
capital city, Kuala Lumpur, and 4 states on dengue alert following an 
alarming surge in cases.

******
[2]
Date: Tue 31 Dec 2002
From: Pablo Nart <p.nart@virgin.net>
Source: New Straits Times online, Sat 28 Dec 2002 [edited]


Malaysia: Rise in number of Dengue Fever Cases in Selangor
----------------------------------------------------------
Selangor recorded 3310 cases of dengue as of 21 Dec 2002, or 2042 cases 
more than the total [in 2001]. In a statement, the State Health Department 
said areas under the Subang Jaya  Municipal Council's jurisdiction had the 
highest number, with 803 cases, followed by Shah Alam City Council (614 
cases) and Selayang Municipal Council (583 cases). Ampang Jaya Municipal 
Council had 513 confirmed dengue cases, Petaling Jaya Municipal Council 254 
cases, Kajang Municipal Council 185 cases, and Hulu Selangor 103 cases.

******
[3]
Date: Tue 31 Dec 2002
From: ProMED-mail <promed@promedmail.org>
Source: Bernama Daily Malaysian News, Mon 30 Dec 2002 [edited]


Malaysia: Most Dengue Cases in Kelantan Reported from Kota Baharu District
--------------------------------------------------
The Kelantan government today set up a special committee to curb the spread 
of dengue fever in the state. Public Administration, Local Government, and 
Regional Development committee chairman Takiyuddin Hassan said its members 
include state, federal, and non-governmental agencies. The committee would 
draw up action plans that included Saturday gotong-royong activities to 
clean up areas infested with _Aedes_ mosquitoes, Takiyuddin said after 
chairing the committee's first meeting here today.

Meanwhile, Kota Baharu District health officer Dr Hamzah Awang Mat said the 
area recorded the highest number of dengue fever cases -- almost 70 percent 
of the cases in Kelantan came from Kota Baharu District. "The increase in 
dengue cases was due the public's failure to ensure cleanliness," Dr Hamzah 
said. Kota Baharu District alone recorded 1139 cases compared to 1657 cases 
throughout Kelantan thus far, he said. Indiscriminate throwing of rubbish 
and dirty home surroundings contributed to the breeding of _Aedes_ 
mosquito, especially in the monsoon months. Dr Hamzah warned that the local 
authorities would take firm action against those who failed to maintain 
cleanliness.

[A similar report from The Star online, Tue 31 Dec 2002
<http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2002/12/31/nation/ktbdengi& 
sec=nation>
was contributed by "Pablo Nart" <p.nart@virgin.net>]

******
[4]
Date: Fri 3 Jan 2003
From: Pablo Nart <p.nart@virgin.net>
Source: New Straits Times (via Newsline), Wed 1 Jan 2003 [edited]


Sarawak: 4 Dengue Haemorrhagic Fever Deaths Reported
--------------------------------------------------
In 2002, 4 people have died of dengue haemorrhagic fever (DHF) in Sarawak, 
State director of Health Dr Yao Sik Chi said today. The 4 were a 3-year-old 
girl from Tabuan Jaya in Kuching, a 36-year-old man from Pujut in Miri, a 
54-year-old woman from Sungai Pantu in Sarikei, and a 37-year-old woman 
from Kampung Engkelumi in Serian.

Dr Yao said 31 cases of DHF were reported in the State up to 30 Dec 2002. 
"As of 30 Dec 2002, Sarawak registered 948 dengue fever cases," he said, 
adding that 431 dengue fever and 24 DHF cases were reported in the State 
[during 2001]. He said the increases in dengue fever and DHF cases this 
year were due to a major dengue outbreak in Sibu between June and August, 
when 50 cases were reported.

Dr Yao said the Health Department had intensified the control and 
preventive measures against the spread of dengue fever and DHF. The 
measures included fogging and intensive search-and-destroy operations on 
_Aedes_ breeding grounds. The department also intensified its community 
awareness campaign and secured the involvement of community leaders to 
prevent dengue fever and DHF outbreaks.

******
[5]
Date: Fri 4 Jan 2003
From: Pablo Nart <p.nart@virgin.net>
Source: BERNAMA (Via Newsline), Wed 1 Jan 2003 [edited]


Johor: Dengue Cases Rise by 68 Percent
---------------------------------------
The number of dengue cases in Johor rose 68 percent to 3952 cases last year 
with 20 deaths. State Exco for Family Development, Women Affairs and Health 
Datin Halimah Sadique said of the total cases, 253 were haemorrhagic dengue 
fever.

In the previous year, there were 137 cases of dengue haemorrhagic fever out 
of the total of 2346 dengue cases in the state with 12 deaths, she said.

"The latest cases were mostly reported in urban areas, namely within the 
Johor Baharu City Council (MBJB), Johor Baharu Tengah Municipal Council 
(MPJBT), Kluang Municipal Council and Pasir Gudang," she told reporters 
after the State Exco meeting, here today. She said the Johor Baharu 
district recorded 2212 cases compared with 1463 cases last year, followed 
by Kota Tinggi district with 534 cases and Kluang with 396 cases. 
Elsewhere, Batu Pahat had 145 cases, Pontian 71 cases, and Mersing 26 
cases, she said.

"In the rural areas, dengue cases mainly occurred in Felda schemes in the 
Kota Tinggi district due to the attitude of the settlers, who did not pay 
much attention to the breeding grounds of the _Aedes_ mosquito near their 
homes," she said.

According to Halimah, the dengue-sensitive areas in the Johor Baharu 
district included the Bandar Baru Uda, Taman Kenanga, Kampung Bakar Batu, 
Taman Perling, Taman Universiti, Taman Ungku Tun Aminah, Taman Mawar flats, 
Kampung Desa Rahmat, Taman Cempaka, Taman Melor, Kampung Sri Jaya, Kampung 
Serdang, Kampung Telok Serdang, Taman Johor Jaya, Kampung Pasir, Taman 
Kobena, Taman Sri Pulai and Taman Kota Masai. On the measures taken to 
check the problem, she said the State Health Department had conducted 
house-to-house inspections with 341 955 homes checked throughout the state.

******
[6]
Date: Sat 4 Jan 2003
From: Pablo Nart <p.nart@virgin.net>
Source: Los Tiempos (Bolivia), Sat  4 Jan 2003, [translated & summarized by 
Mod.JW; edited]
<http://www.lostiempos.com/hoy/pna15.shtml>


Bolivia: A Case of Dengue Hemorrhagic Fever Confirmed in Santa Cruz
-------------------------------------------------------------------
Roman Callata, responsible for the Malaria Department of the Departmental 
Health Service (Sedes), confirmed the death from dengue hemorrhagic fever 
(DHF) at the end of December 2002 of a child in Plan Tres Mil. The test was 
done in the Centro de Enfermedades Tropicales (Cenetrop).

5 suspected cases of classic dengue fever have been reported from 
Cochabamba: 2 in the city and 3 in the zone of Chapare. Callata pointed out 
that not all cases of dengue virus type 3 infection result in DHF. He said 
that in December 2002, Santa Cruz registered 12 cases: 3 in the city, 3 in 
San Ignacio de Velasco, one in Portachuelo and one in Caranda [the math 
doesn't work out - CE.PG]. In 2002, there were 182 cases of dengue virus 
types 1 and 2.

[It is not clear from this report whether this fatal case was due to dengue 
virus type 3 and marks the beginning of a new threat to that region of 
Bolivia in the lowlands east of the Andes. - Mod.JW]

******
[7]
Date: Fri, 3 Jan 2003
From: Pablo Nart <p.nart@virgin.net>
Source: Listin Diario (Dominican Republic), Fri 3 Jan 2003, [translated and 
summarized by Mod.JW; edited]
<http://www.listin.com.do/cuerpos/republica/rep6.htm>


Dominican Republic: Dengue Fever Cases Increasing
--------------------------------------------------
The Subdirector of the Robert Reid Cabral Hospital in Santo Domingo [the 
capital], Jose Dominguez Garabito, said that since November 2002 the 
hospital had seen 188 suspect cases of dengue fever, of which 88 were 
classic, 81 had hemorrhagic signs, and 19 were cases of dengue hemorrhagic 
fever. The cases are coming from all over the country, but mainly from 
Santo Domingo province. 6 new cases of dengue fever were registered between 
Mon 30 Dec 2002 and Thu 2 Jan 2003.

In 2002 the country registered 2700 suspect cases of dengue with 30 deaths, 
of which about 15 were [laboratory] confirmed.

[Byline: Doris Pantaleon]

--
ProMED-mail
<promed@promedmail.org>

[see also:
2002
----
Dengue/DHF updates (01): 14 Jan 2002 20020115.3265
Dengue/DHF updates (50): 30 Dec 2002 20021230.6164]
2001
----
Dengue/DHF - Malaysia      20010613.1147
Dengue/DHF updates (01): 8 Jan 2001 20010108.0064
Dengue/DHF updates (21): 18 Dec 2001 20011218.3058
2000
----
Dengue - Bolivia (Santa Cruz)      20000331.0479
Dengue - Dominican Republic (02) 20000917.1595
Dengue - Dominican Republic: RFI      20000829.1450
1999
----
Dengue - Malaysia (Sarawak)      19990125.0119
Dengue - Malaysia (Sarawak) (02) 19990718.1206
Dengue - Malaysia: 1998      19990130.0134
Dengue - Malaysia: 1998 (02) 19990224.0249
Dengue - Malaysia: control      19990204.0162
Dengue/DHF - Malaysia: update      19990725.1248
1998
----
Dengue - Dominican Republic (03) 19981012.2012
Dengue - Dominican Republic: RFI      19980917.1871
Dengue - Malaysia (Petaling Jaya)      19980811.1575
Dengue - Malaysia (Sarawak)      19980307.0435
Dengue - Malaysia (Sarawak) (02) 19980806.1514
Dengue/DHF - Malaysia (Perak)      19980916.1857
Dengue/DHF - Malaysia (Sarawak)      19980714.1327
Dengue/DHF - Malaysia: 1997      19980415.0689]
.................mpp/jw/cp/pg/mpp


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