Illegal dumpsites make up 30% of mosquito breeding grounds in Perak

ILLEGAL dumpsites make up about 30 per cent of mosquito breeding grounds in Perak and contribute to the increase in dengue cases in the state.

State Health Committee chairman Datuk Dr Mah Hang Soon said the rise in the number of cases in the city was attributed to the increase in illegal dumpsites in Perak.

He said overgrown grass, clogged drains and stagnant river flow caused by illegal dumping could have aggravated the situation.

“The state Health Department and the Ipoh City Council have been working closely to combat the problem but have failed to bring about positive change. “We have visited hotspot areas to spray, fog and educate the public on dengue. However, the cases continue to rise,” he said during a check on a vacant lot at Lim Garden here.

Please clean up your land to fight mosquitoes

The land was overgrown and strewn with rubbish making it an ideal mosquito breeding ground. A notice was sent to the premises’ owner who is residing in Australia, asking him to clean up his land. 

“If no action is taken soon, we will issue a compound. If that, too, fails, we will haul the owner to court,” he added.

Dr Mah said it was not only the state government’s onus to fight the dengue menace. “Everyone needs to do their part. Ultimately, it is for their own good and the good of the community,” he said. 

Dr Mah called on the people to report to state officials if they came across abandoned pieces of land with overgrown grass, illegal dumpsites and unclean premises.

Residents joint site check to combat mosquitoes

Also present was state Health Department director Datuk Dr Nordiyanah Hassan. Residents from Sungai Pari, who were affected by the vacant land, attended the site check.

Resident A. Jeyaraj, 74, a freelance writer, who resides in Jalan Sungai Pari, here said dengue was already present when he moved into the neighbourhood in 1980.

“However, it is getting worst because of clogged drains and stagnant water of a river nearby, which is filled with rubbish. “My wife, cousin and two nieces had dengue since July this year. “I hope the authorities will do something about it as I live in fear of getting dengue,” said Jeyaraj.

Another resident, Ng Ching Seng, 52, said he and his family have to stay indoors most of the time as they were scared of getting dengue.

“I had to fix mosquito nets on the windows of my house to protect my family members,” said Ng, adding that the abandoned land next to his house had become a dumpsite.

Status of dengue cases in Perak

Perak reportedly recorded a 178 per cent increase in dengue cases from January to mid-November this year compared with the same period last year.

Between Jan 1 and Nov 15, the state recorded 5,049 dengue cases compared with 1,816 in the same period last year. In the same period, the state also recorded 14 dengue deaths compared with two last year.

In Kinta Valley alone, there were 2,831 dengue cases and seven deaths this year compared with 614 dengue cases last year. There was no deaths recorded last year.
Source