Putrajaya: Deaths due to dengue in the country have dropped by 61.3 per cent to 43 cases compared with 111 recorded last year, Health Minister Datuk Seri Dr Dzulkefly Ahmad said. He said dengue cases nationwide also declined by 56.5 per cent to 51,046 cases as of Dec 6, compared with 118,291 cases recorded throughout 2024.
According to BERNAMA News Agency, Dr Dzulkefly expressed hope that the number of dengue cases would remain at 51,046 by the end of December, marking a 56.5 per cent reduction. He congratulated public health programmes, the disease control division, and all parties involved in controlling dengue cases. The minister made these remarks at the opening of the Putrajaya Wolbachia Insectarium, an event also attended by Minister in the Prime Minister's Department (Federal Territories) Datuk Seri Dr Zaliha Mustafa.
The Putrajaya Wolbachia Insectarium is the second facility developed to bolster the Wolbachia Mosquito Operation (WMO) nationwide, aimed at combating the Aedes mosquito. Dzulkefly highlighted that the Health Ministry (MoH) is enhancing integrated dengue prevention and control strategies through district health offices, in collaboration with strategic partners, local authorities, relevant agencies, and local communities, following a whole-of-nation approach.
Since 2019, the ministry has introduced an innovative dengue control solution by releasing Wolbachia-infected Aedes mosquitoes, a biological method scientifically proven to reduce the mosquito's ability to transmit the dengue virus. This intervention complements existing measures, including eliminating breeding grounds, chemical control, and community involvement in maintaining environmental cleanliness. The approach aligns with World Health Organisation (WHO) recommendations for integrated and sustainable vector control.
Meanwhile, Dr Zaliha affirmed her ministry's commitment to supporting the MoH in reducing dengue cases across all areas in the Federal Territories. She mentioned that the provision of a building for the Putrajaya Wolbachia Insectarium demonstrated the commitment and cooperation of local authorities in curbing dengue cases. The building, which had long been unused, was repurposed into a facility for the Health Ministry, benefiting the populace as a whole.