Kuala Lumpur - Malaysia has recorded 33 deaths caused by dengue fever this year, a 50-per-cent increase from the same period last year, the Health Ministry said Thursday. The number of cases of the mosquito-borne disease also rose by 48 per cent to 12,179 from January 1 to March 16 this year, compared with 8,212 last year, Health Minister Liow Tiong Lai said.
Liow blamed the spike on the current rainy season and dirty residential areas, which, he said, led to an increase in breeding grounds for the dengue-carrying aedes mosquito.
"It's also partly the apathetic attitude of the people in not taking care of the cleanliness of their homes," Liow was quoted as saying by the Star online news portal.
"Continuous efforts to educate the people and campaigns to eradicate dengue fever are ongoing nationwide," he said.
The sharp rise in cases and deaths came despite increasing efforts by the government to curb the dengue outbreak.
In 2008, a total of 49,335 cases were recorded with 112 deaths.
The symptoms of dengue include high fever, rashes, headaches, and muscle and joint pain. The disease can be fatal if treatment is not sought in the early stages of infection.
