Malaysia dengue update
Cases up 70% in 2024
The Malaysia Ministry of Health reports 52,887 total dengue cases through April this year, a 70 percent increase compared to the same period in 2023 (36,977).
While there were 39 deaths as a result of complications of dengue fever, it is 56 percent more fatalities than the 22 deaths reported during the same period last year.
The number of dengue hotspot localities for the week ending April 27 were 63 countrywide- 51 localities in Selangor, four (4) localities in WPKL & Putrajaya, three (3) localities in Penang, two (2) in Perak locality, two (2) localities in Kedah and one (1) locality in Sarawak.
Dengue is a disease caused by a virus spread through mosquito bites. The disease can take up to 2 weeks to develop with illness generally lasting less than a week.
Health effects from dengue include fever, headache, nausea, vomiting, rash, muscle and joint pain, and minor bleeding.
Dengue can become severe within a few hours. Severe dengue is a medical emergency, usually requiring hospitalization.
In severe cases, health effects can include hemorrhage (uncontrolled bleeding), shock (seriously low blood pressure), organ failure, and death.