The Health Ministry has instructed all state health authorities to be on high alert after three deaths - two in Malacca and one in Penang - were recorded from 819 dengue cases last week.

The number was an increase of 99 cases or 17 percent from 720 cases reported the previous week, Health Director-General Dr Mohd Ismail Merican said.

Mohd Ismail said the ministry viewed seriously the increase in the dengue cases and had issued a circular to all state health directors urging them to step up inspection, control and enforcement.

"The ministry will not hesitate to impose the maximum compound under the Destruction of Disease-Bearing Insects Act against those who allow their premises to become breeding grounds for the aedes mosquito," he said in a statement.

The first victim was a 32-year-old labourer from Kampung Orang Asli Lubuk Bandung, Jasin, Malacca who sought treatment from a private clinic on Nov 6.

"The patient was referred to the Malacca Hospital on the same day but died the next day due to the haemorrhagic dengue fever," he said.

The second case involved a 49-year-old civil servant from Kampung Lubuk Redan, Masjid Tanah, Malacca.

Mohd Ismail said the patient, who had hypertension, received an initial treatment from a Health Clinic on Nov 9 after developing a fever two days earlier and was asked to return the next day for evaluation.

He was referred to the Malacca Hospital when he returned the next day after showing haemorrhagic dengue symptoms and died on Nov 12 due to complications from dengue shock syndrome.

High increase in seven states

The third victim was a 10-year-old boy from Halaman Gelugor in Penang who was reported to have developed a fever but only sought treatment at a private hospital three days later in seriously ill condition.

The boy was then referred to the Penang Hospital and was admitted to the intensive care unit on Nov 15 and died on Nov 20 due to complications from dengue shock syndrome, he said.

Meanwhile, during the week between Nov 15-21, seven states recorded a high increase in the number of dengue cases namely Penang (29 percent), Sarawak (28 percent), Johor (21 percent), Negri Sembilan (19 percent), Kuala Lumpur (12 percent), Perak (11 percent) and Selangor (seven percent).

He also called on members of the public to ensure their homes and workplaces were free of mosquito breeding sites.

"The weather could be the contributing factor to the rise in the number of dengue cases, however we should continue to ensure that our surroundings are free of mosquito breeding ground," he said.

Mohd Ismail also said that apathy among the public was also a contributing factor in the increase in the number of dengue cases.

Due to public apathy, he said, only 21 percent of 106 gotong-royong activities in dengue epidemic areas could be carried out.

Drop in Chikungunya, cholera

On Chikungunya, Mohd Ismail said 275 cases were reported this week, dropping slightly from 277 cases last week, with Sarawak contributing 99 percent of the total cases.

A total of 4,742 Chikungunya cases reported so far this year compared to 4,271 cases during the same period last year. No Chikungunya deaths were reported so far.

On cholera, Dr Mohd Ismail said the number of cases in Terengganu remained at 185 and that there was a drastic decrease in the number of cases since Nov 17.

He said that of the 185 patients, 47 were still being treated in hospitals.

He attributed the decrease to the steps taken by the ministry in tackling the disease but said that there were still risks of infection in the areas involved.

He urged members of the public to continue observing hygiene and take precautionary measures during the rainy season and Aidiladha.

- Bernama