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DAP calls on UMNO Ministers to be concerned and take effective action about the worst dengue epidemic in the nation's history with more than 30,000 cases and over 62 deaths - with the majority of the cases and fatalities Malays Media Statement by Lim Kit Siang (Petaling Jaya, Wednesday): Government indifference and apathy about the worst dengue epidemic in the nation's history, with more than 30,000 dengue cases and over 62 deaths last year, is most irresponsible and deplorable. DAP calls on UMNO Ministers to be concerned and take effective action about the worst dengue epidemic in the nation's history especially as the majority of the dengue cases and fatalities are Malays. This is not a racial issue, as the aedes mosquitoes would not differentiate between races when they bite and spread the deadly dengue virus, but this is an important fact - as are all relevant data about the incidence of dengue cases and fatalities in terms of ethnicity, age, gender and location - in devising and implementing an effective anti-dengue counter strategy. UMNO Ministers, and not just the Health Minister, Datuk Chua Jui Meng, would be equally responsible for the worst dengue epidemic in the nation's history and the high cost of avoidable human suffering and human lives - especially as the dengue epidemic has shown no signs of abating in the new year with at least two deaths (both Malay children) in the first day of 2003, one from Indera Mahkota, Kuantan and the other from Kampung Manjoi, Ipoh. All the Cabinet Ministers should be answerable to the people as to why the government had not declared a dengue epidemic last year when it was even worse than the two past dengue epidemics in 1997 and 1998. From the data given by the Selangor exco member in charge of health, Datuk Tang See Hang on Monday on the dengue epidemic country-wide last year until Dec. 14, it is clear that last year was the nation's worst year both in terms of number of dengue cases and deaths. On Monday, Tang said that as of December 14, the data on dengue cases and fatalities were 29,615 cases and 53 deaths as follows:     State No. of Dengue cases Fatalities Selangor 8710 13 Kuala Lumpur 6342 2 Johore 3649 15 Perak 2812 10 Kelantan 1517 1 Negeri Sembilan 1367 3 Terengganu 1144 2 Sarawak 891 4 Penang 868 1 Pahang 860 0 Kedah 686 0 Melaka 317 0 Sabah 273 2 Perlis 179 0 Total 29615 53 These are clearly incomplete and under-stated figures for the whole year, as it did not include the following: The total figure of 20 dengue-related deaths for Johore last year as announced by the Johore State Family Development, Women's Affairs and Health Committee chairman Datin Halimah Sadique in Johore Bahru after the State Exco meeting the previous Tuesday. (New Straits Times 2.1.03) The report of a total of five dengue deaths in Negri Sembilan last year until Christmas Day, quoting the Negri Sembilan Director for Health, Datuk Dr. Ahmad Razin Ahmad Mashir. (Utusan Malaysia 26.12.02) The four dengue deaths in Kuala Lumpur by September last year according to the Kuala Lumpur City Hall public relations officer Sariffuddin Ibrahim. (New Straits Times 13.9.02) Under-reporting of the number of dengue deaths in Perak for last year. Tang's figures of 53 deaths for last year were only up to 14th December and did not take into account the remaining 17 days of the year, when the dengue epidemic was still at its height. Taking into account these factors, it is clear that for last year, there are over 30,000 dengue cases and over 62 dengue deaths, making last year the worst dengue year for the country, as compared to the following data from the World Health Organisation, which are available on the Internet, on the figures for "Dengue fever/dengue haemorrhagic fever cases and deaths" for Malaysia from 1991 to 2000 ( the data for 2001 are not available):   Year No. of cases Deaths 1991 6,628 39 1992 5,473 24 1993 5,615 23 1994 3,133 13 1995 6,543 28 1996 14,255 30 1997 19,544 50 1998 27,379 58 1999 10,008 - 2000 7,118 37 1. (www.wpro.who.int/document/ DENGUE_SITUATION_IN_WPR_Aug01.doc) 2. (http://www.wpro.who.int/images/newspdf/cdb_dec00.pdf) With over 30,000 dengue cases and over 62 dengue deaths last year, Chua Jui Meng should explain why a dengue epidemic in the country had not been declared. I have been given to understand that dengue, which is endemic in Malaysia, must be regarded as having reached epidemic proportion when an outbreak occurs with incidence exceeding 10 - 20 per cent of the annual average of the number of cases. For Malaysia, a very conservative annual average of dengue cases will be in the band from 10,000 to 15,000 cases, but whatever the figure chosen, last year's outbreak of over 30,000 cases and over 62 deaths fall fully within the definition of an epidemic. It is time that the Health Minister and all UMNO Ministers bestir themselves and take the dengue epidemic seriously before there is further loss of lives. (8/1/2003) * Lim Kit Siang, DAP National Chairman