Be responsible or the next victim may be a loved one- The Star, Malaysia 3rd February 2009

The reason I wrote this article is because dengue fever has reached a really worrying level in Malaysia.


If we don't help tackle the problem, more death will be coming our way.

I came down with Dengue fever a few years ago and the experience was horrifying esp watching the platlets dropping day by day.
And not forgetting the three times a day blood taking. (Luckily it was done by my wife!)

The title and content of the article was more blunt. It was something more sarcastic. The Star modified the title a little and omitted some harsh sentences which made the article more pleasing to read. I think they don't want to stir up any panic.
(I had one sentence which mentioned that I have seen several family members dying from dengue over a span of a few days. One dropping dead after another)

My greatest regret is my failure to call on the bloggers to play a part in the war against dengue at the end of the article.

I just forgot.

I wrote the article at 10pm on the Sunday night (during heavy snowing). I was so preoccupied with taking the pictures for you that I forgot to write about the role of the bloggers.

Perhaps you all could write another article.

And Dr CL Loh was right. Luckily I mentioned myself as a physician rather than a nephrologist. If not, sure 'kena one' and the MSN president would have to clarify why a nephrologist is able to make remarks on dengue.

And perhaps he would then denounce me and say that this Dr is not from Malaysia.




Be responsible or the next victim may be a loved one

IN 2008, 49,335 cases of dengue fever were reported with 112 deaths. In the first 28 days of this year alone, 14 people have died and 5,062 cases have been recorded.

Looking at the current trend, dengue has worked its way to the top of the health priority list.

Vectors of the dengue virus (female Aedes aegypti mosquito) breed in and around the house and in principle can be controlled through individual and community action.

It may be assumed that the vector feeds during the day, rests indoors and lays its eggs in mostly man-made artificial clean stagnant water in a wide variety of sites.

The most effective and sensibile way to control the population of Aedes aegypti is larval source reduction, which is eliminating or cleaning water-holding containers (even a plastic spoon discarded into the environment is sufficient for the breeding of the mosquito) that serve as the larval habitats for the mosquito in the domestic environment.

Unfortunately, community participation is not forthcoming as pointed out by the Health Ministry. The never-ending embarrassing action of our citizens in not cooperating with the authorities has crossed the limits and I am for one fed-up.

They do not seem to understand that it is their ignorance and carelessness that have contributed to this threat in the first place.

As a practising physician for 10 years I have seen lives lost due to this disease.

Many deaths could have been prevented if all Malaysians shed their irresponsible couldn’t-care-less attitude and participate in individual and community action to prevent vector breeding.

I appeal to all Malaysians to treat the war against dengue seriously. I admit that there are no easy solutions to the dengue problem.

However, with community based strategies coupled with a system of proactive surveillance and commitment by the Government on integrated and sustainable long-term vector control measures can dengue infection in this country be reduced in the long term.

Until Malaysians understand the importance of their role in tackling this dreaded infection, more lives would be lost. And the next victim could well be your loved ones.

DR Y.W. CHOW,

United Kingdom.