Malaysian public’s lackadaisical attitude hampers fight against dengue
KUALA LUMPUR – Authorities in Selangor are blaming half of all dengue cases in the state on the people’s failure to get rid of containers and other objects with stagnant water.
“Water contained in old tyres, paint cans, flower pot plates and even clogged rain gutters are ideal breeding sites,” said state health executive councillor Dr Daroyah Alwi.
“It is just people’s lackadaisical attitude towards cleaning up or informing the authorities when they come across clogged rain gutters in public spaces.
“One teaspoon of water is enough for mosquitoes to lay eggs, and water sitting in containers creates havoc.”
The Star on Friday reported that the lackadaisical attitude of the public is a major reason hampering the fight against dengue.
Local councils in various states say their efforts to eliminate the Aedes are frustrated by the reluctance of people to allow their staff into some areas, as well as public apathy in clearing potential Aedes breeding grounds.
In October last year, Dr Daroyah had said that health inspectors from local councils found that 50 per cent of breeding sites were located in and around the victims’ homes or buildings in urban areas.
In Petaling Jaya, readers of The Star’s central edition, StarMetro, called the paper to alert it about places with stagnant water.
Among the places were the clogged rain gutter at the Petaling Jaya Court Complex in Jalan Sultan in PJ New Town, and water tanks on top of PJ’s Palms Sports Centre which were left uncovered.
Dr Daroyah said she would get the Petaling Jaya City Council’s health department to order an immediate clean-up of the clogged gutter at the court building.
MBPJ health and environment department deputy director Dr Abdul Ghalib Sulaiman said he would order the vector unit to conduct checks around the PJ New Town area to eliminate breeding sites.
Source: Asia One
Published: 08 Feb 2014
