Dengue fever cases climbed by 18 percent to 38,330 between January and Oct 9 compared to the corresponding period last year, said director-general of health Dr Mohd Ismail Merican.

He said dengue deaths rose by 62 percent to 117 deaths during the period against 72 in the corresponding period last year.

However, he said dengue cases dropped by two to 911 last week (Oct 3 to 9) compared to the previous week and no deaths were reported.

Six states registered rising dengue cases last week, namely Terengganu (35 cases), Johor (33), Sabah (11), Malacca (three), Kedah and Sarawak (two each), he said in a statement.

Mohd Ismail said of 228 areas monitored nationwide last week, 35 were identified as hot spots with 480 dengue cases reported with 57 percent of the locations had sensitive Aedes mosquito breeding rate.

He said 89 percent of Aedes breeding grounds were found outside the premises.

Mohd Ismail said only seven or 20 percent of the 35 hot spots carried out gotong-royong (community programme) to rid the menace and so far 24 of 34 districts had activated dengue committees.

Until August, 10,476 notices and 16,427 compounds worth RM3.3 million were issued under the Destruction of Disease-Bearing Insects Act 1975, he said, adding that 930 cases were brought to the court with 301 fined imposed.

Mohd Ismail said in efforts to create awareness on the scourge of dengue fever, the Health Ministry launched the Anti-Dengue Media Campaign from Oct 11 to 17.

A total of 185 anti-dengue television commercials will be aired on all television stations, 108 over radio and in 13 newspapers, he said.

- Bernama