Dengue deaths in Malaysia more than triple 2013 numbers

The number of fatalities due to dengue fever in Malaysia is 75 from the beginning of the year to June 7, according to a recent National News Agency of Malaysia report.

This compares to 22 dengue deaths recorded during the same period in 2013.

Image/CIA

Nationally, 360 localities reported an average of 1,670 dengue fever cases weekly. The director-general of Health Datuk Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah noted the massive increase in cases in 2014 compared to last year. “The total number of dengue cases from January to June 7 was 38,411 with an increase of 252 per cent compared with 10,910 cases reported in the same period last year,” he said.

Hotspots for dengue in Malaysia include four dozen localities in Selangor and areas of Negeri Sembilan and Kuala Lumpur.

Malaysia reported nearly 40,000 dengue fever cases in all of 2013. For more infectious disease news and information, visit and “like” the Infectious Disease News Facebook page

Dengue fever is an infectious disease carried by mosquitoes and caused by any of four related dengue viruses. Thisdisease used to be called “break-bone fever” because it sometimes causes severe joint and muscle pain that feels like bones are breaking.

The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates there may be 50–100 million dengue infections worldwide every year. However, new research from the University of Oxford and the Wellcome Trust, using cartographic approaches, estimate there to be 390 million dengue infections per year worldwide.

There are three types of dengue fever in order of less severe to most: the typical uncomplicated dengue fever, dengue hemorrhagic fever (DHS) and dengue shock syndrome (DSS).

There is not a vaccine for dengue fever. There is no treatment for dengue, just treat the symptoms.