1.Prolonged dengue outbreak at a high-rise apartment in Petaling Jaya, Selangor, Malaysia: A case study
Tee, G.H. ; Yoep, N. ; Jai, A.N ; Abdul Mutalip, M.H ; Paiwai, F. ; Hasim@Hashim, M.H. ; Pan, S. ; Lodz, N.A ; Aris, T.
Tropical Biomedicine 2019;36(2):550-558
There was an increasing trend in dengue infection in Malaysia with many outbreaks
that occurred in Petaling District, Selangor in 2013 – 2014. A high rise apartment in Petaling
Jaya reported ten episodes of dengue outbreaks from June 2013 to June 2014. We studied the
prolonged dengue hotspot at this residential complex in Petaling Jaya, Selangor and made
recommendations to prevent future prolonged dengue outbreaks. This was a retrospective
exploratory study by analysing secondary data on dengue outbreaks from years 2013 to 2014.
Small group discussions, interview sessions with staff and site visits were carried out to
obtain necessary information. Two hundred and ninety-one cases were notified during the
dengue outbreaks from Epid week (EW) 25 in 2013 to EW 26 in 2014 with no mortality
reported. Information entered into dengue databases might be incomplete or mixed up.
Active case detection and environmental risks assessment based on cases were not carry out
due to the massive outbreak. Basic information on the population in the outbreak locality was
unavailable. Various control activities were carried out with varying outcomes. Community
participation was poor with little cooperation from residents during health education and
community-based mosquito breeding prevention activities. To ensure better management of
dengue outbreaks and to prevent prolonged dengue outbreaks in the future, integrated case
findings, effective control activities, extensive environmental assessment on the outbreak
locality and adopting innovative community outreach initiative with sufficient staff are
required to curb dengue vector.