I read with unnerving concern reports that there have been 1,023 cases of dengue fever including five deaths in Subang Jaya alone the first 11 weeks of this year. I read later that only half of above figures were confirmed cases. Even so, this itself is a colossal figure. It is scary because the figure is too high and seems to go on unabated.

I have been staying in Subang Jaya the past 15 years and every year, especially during the rainy months, I dread to read the same problem happening again and again. It is sad indeed to see that we are losing valuable lives owing to this disease and the problem seems to be out of control. Initially when I moved into this area, the local council and the Health Ministry would place the blame on the numerous, housing construction sites in the vicinity.

The USJ-Subang Jaya area is now fully developed and has been for the past couple of years. Now I hear that the director-general of the Health Ministry is pointing his fingers at abandoned housing units.

This is indeed a lame excuse and it reflects on the poor mentality as well as the poor accountability of the ministry concerned. Is the Health Ministry telling us that they are helpless in controlling the spread of dengue just because of the presence of such houses? Why are they putting the blame on empty houses now when they have never raised this as a possible mosquito breeding ground before?

I am also disappointed with the weak and disconcerted efforts shown by the authorities in their fight against dengue. Though there have been several deaths as a result of dengue in our housing area over the past couple of years, rarely do you see the authorities fogging the area or carrying out serious house-to-house checks to identify mosquito breeding grounds.

I am quite certain that the main cause of the rampant spread of dengue in Subang Jaya is due to the dirty and water-clogged places found in many occupied houses. Drains are hopelessly filled with rubbish and getting mosquito bites outside such compounds are a common matter.

What we have done so far in our efforts to control this vector-borne disease is not enough. It is high time that a more serious deployment and engagement of resources be put into action before it is too late.