BY LOH FOON FONG
PUTRAJAYA: The Health Ministry wants private general practitioners (GPs) to stock up on dengue rapid test kits and carry out tests on all patients with dengue symptoms as concerns of a worsening outbreak grow.
Its minister Datuk Seri Dr S. Subramaniam said most GPs currently did not keep stock of the test kits and missed 99% of dengue cases on patients’ first visits.
“To increase the percentage of those diagnosed correctly, we need them to have these kits,” he said after a special meeting on dengue at the ministry yesterday.
Dr Subramaniam said GPs had to put all fever cases under suspicion of dengue unless proven otherwise.
He also asked them to look beyond the normal symptoms such as fever and rashes.
The ministry, he added, would meet with the GPs soon on the use of the test kit.
Last week alone saw more than 2,900 cases of dengue. Dr Subramaniam expressed concern that the figure could surpass the 3,000-plus cases recorded last September.
The ministry was taking all necessary measures to combat dengue and requested cooperation from state authorities and local councils.
He reminded parents to ensure that their children put on long-sleeved clothing or used mosquito repellents in the morning.
This was because 80% of dengue cases happened at home as mosquitoes would be out foraging from 6am to 8.30am and 6pm to 8.30pm.
From Jan 1 to 24, the ministry reported 8,502 dengue cases nationwide – an increase of 65% or 3,361 cases over the same period last year (5,141 cases).
Dengue deaths for the same period totalled 20, compared with seven for the same period last year. The number represented a 186% spike.
Dr Subramaniam said one factor that brought about the increase in cases and deaths was the shift in the dominant dengue serotype which occurred last August – from DEN-2 to DEN-1.
Asked why there were more severe cases that resulted in deaths, health deputy director-general Datuk S. Jeyaindran said the virus was more deadly.
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