BINTULU: The dengue outbreak affecting several areas here has become increasingly concerning, with four new cases reported in Kampung Baru on Wednesday, making it one of the most severely impacted areas since the outbreak was declared on July 1.
Bintulu Divisional Health Officer, Dr Melvin Chung Hsien Liang, said that Kampung Baru, Kampung Sinong, and Pasar Lama have been identified as infection hotspots due to their geographic location and interlinked surroundings.
“If you look at the map, Kampung Baru, Kampung Sinong, and Pasar Lama are clearly connected. This indicates that their environments are quite similar, and without immediate action, the infection will continue to spread from one village to another,” he said.
He was speaking during an inspection of several residential homes in the affected areas on Thursday.
According to Dr Melvin, the public should not take this outbreak lightly as dengue is a very serious infectious disease, although it is also preventable.
“We have received several serious dengue cases where patients had to be admitted to the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) due to extremely low platelet counts, some as low as 5,000, compared to the normal range of above 180,000. This is very alarming because it can lead to internal bleeding and even death,” he added.
However, no fatalities have been reported so far, and all patients have received treatment and been discharged from Bintulu Hospital.
Dr Melvin also expressed concern over the lack of public awareness and cooperation in efforts to eliminate Aedes mosquito breeding grounds.
“Our team conducts daily vector control operations, including adult mosquito fogging. But these efforts will not succeed without the cooperation of local residents. This is not just the responsibility of the Ministry of Health — it requires the involvement of local authorities, other agencies, and elected representatives as well,” he said.
He urged residents to take at least five minutes daily to inspect both the inside and outside of their homes and remove any containers that hold stagnant water which can become breeding sites for Aedes mosquitoes.
“Aedes mosquitoes like to hide indoors, especially on walls. Spray aerosol before dusk and before sleeping as this is one of the most basic preventive measures that can be taken for your family’s safety,” he explained.
Dr Melvin added that although various measures have been implemented since the declaration of the outbreak, the situation is still not fully under control and must be addressed comprehensively.
“This is a multifactorial situation involving environmental factors, human behavior, and community awareness. We need commitment from all parties to ensure that the outbreak does not continue to spread,” he stressed.
As of August 6, Kampung Baru recorded an additional four cases, bringing the total number of dengue cases in the village to 56. Kampung Sinong remains at seven cases, while Pasar Lama still has two cases.
