An opposition political party today urged health authorities to place the country on dengue fever alert amid a sharp rise in cases of the mosquito-borne disease, which has killed 40 people here this year.

"How many more people must die from the dengue outbreak before the health ministry is prepared to declare a nationwide alert?", DAP chairperson Lim Kit Siang said in a statement.

Lim urged the government to immediately launch a media campaign to boost national awareness and curb the loss of any more lives. Children who have suffered more fatalities than in previous years.

"The medical authorities should stop trifling with human lives and must adopt the attitude that another death from the dengue outbreak is completely unacceptable and one too many," he said.

Explanation needed

Lim said in the first 10 months of 2002, the dengue outbreak has claimed the lives of 40 people, including 12 in Selangor, 13 in Johor, 10 in Perak and three in Negri Sembilan.

"The health authorites should explain why they have dragged their feet and have not yet launched a nationwide alert on the virulent dengue outbreak...," he said.

In September, Kuala Lumpur and four states were placed on dengue fever alert following an alarming surge in cases.

Characterised by painful joints, fever and a rash, dengue symptoms usually begin within a week of a bite from a carrier mosquito. AFP