11 dengue deaths in Sabah last year
Published on: Sunday, January 07, 2024
“Until Epidemiology Week 52 (ME-52) in 2023, a total of 6,983 dengue cases were reported, a decrease of 1.8 per cent compared to 2022 (7,110 cases),” Dr Asits said in a statement.
Kota Kinabalu: The Sabah Health Department recorded 11 deaths due to dengue fever with a death rate of 0.16 per cent involving eight districts in the State, as of Dec 30, 2023.
Its Director Datuk Dr Asits Sanna said three deaths were reported in Sandakan, two in Kunak and one each in Papar, Semporna, Kudat, Nabawan, Putatan and Tuaran.
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He said this showed an increase of 10pc compared to the same period in 2022 with 10 deaths.
“Until Epidemiology Week 52 (ME-52) in 2023, a total of 6,983 dengue cases were reported, a decrease of 1.8 per cent compared to 2022 (7,110 cases),” he said in a statement.
On Jan 3, Dr Asits was quoted as saying that the Department views seriously the case of an 18-year-old male from Kg Bulieng, Tuaran, who died of dengue due to alleged poor diagnosis by medical officers in Tuaran Hospital’s Emergency and Trauma Department.
Preliminary investigations showed the patient came to the hospital’s Emergency and Trauma Department twice - on Dec 25 and Dec 28.
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On the second visit, the patient was evaluated by an Emergency Physician on duty at Tuaran Hospital and found to have dengue.
Because the patient’s condition was unstable at the time, he was transferred to Queen Elizabeth Hospital for further treatment at 11.30am the same day.
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However, the patient was pronounced dead the next day at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital’s Intensive Care Unit.
Based on information from the Malaysian Meteorological Department, Dr Asits said rainfall is expected during the North East Monsoon (MTL) season throughout January and February.
Therefore, he reminded the public to take preventive measures, including searching and destroying breeding grounds of aedes larvae around their houses or premises for 10 minutes every week and to conduct gotong-royong activities in their respective residential areas.
He also urged the public to protect themselves from mosquito bites by using repellents and aerosol sprays when mosquitoes are active, which is in the early morning between 5 and 7am and late afternoon from 5pm and 7pm.
“They must also seek early treatment at any health facility if experiencing symptoms of dengue such as fever, joint/bone/muscle pain, severe pain of headache and pain behind the eyes,” said Dr Asits.
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