Up to May 23 this year, Perak has recorded 454 cases of Chikungunya virus infection.
According to Health Director of Perak Health Department, Dato Dr Ding Lay Ming, it was 30 times more in comparison, which was an additional 441 cases from 13 in 2019.
“Kampar recorded the highest number of cases this year, which was 157, followed by Larut, Matang and Selama (LMS) District with 109 and Kinta with 99,” she said in a statement. “In the meantime, Kinta showed the highest increase in cases.
Up to the 21st week of 2020, 15 hotspot localities in the state with active Chikungunya cases were found, which include an uncontrolled locality (more than 14 days duration of Chikungunya) in Kinta; and 14 controlled localities (less than 14 days). Of the 14, 12 are in Kinta and two are in Kampar.
No deaths due to Chikungunya were reported as of late.
Ding added that the root cause of Chikungunya virus spread is the high index of Aedes mosquito breeding found in involved localities.
“In the duration of the Movement Control Order (MCO), many abandoned lots and empty premises in the state were made dumping grounds,” she bemoaned. “Since January this year, approximately 4,969 containers have been found crawling with Aedes larvae.”
Rosli Mansor
