Putrajaya needs to declare a dengue epidemic... now

MARCH 25 — In Kuala Lumpur, over iced teh tarik...

Malik: Hey, remember Yong?

Isa: Our old colleague who left last year? Yeah. Why?

Malik: I heard he’s been admitted to the hospital last weekend. Dengue. 

Isa: Oh my, that’s terrible. Hope he makes it. Things seem to be getting worse, isn’t it?

Malik: Sure is. I thought we wouldn’t top last year’s numbers in dengue cases and deaths but with the way things are going right now, we will. 

Isa: And last year was already our worst year in at least 20 years. Over 108,000 cases and 215 dead if I recall. What’s the count so far in 2015?

Malik: Here, I have it on my phone — 31,441 cases up to last Saturday and 85 dead up to March 14. That’s averaging what, one dead Malaysian a day? 

Isa: Plus a percentage point, but yes, one death a day on average. 

Malik: And we’re seeing about 400 cases a day now. Last year, we averaged 300 cases a day, give or take a few. I tell you, we need to up the ante here. Whatever the authorities are doing doesn’t seem to be working.

Isa: Definitely. I see warning banners in my neighbourhood these days. Apparently I live in a dengue-affected area. If a house is found to breed Aedes mosquitos, the fine is RM500. But who’s checking?

Malik: Exactly what I’m saying. Information and awareness isn’t enough. 

Isa: Now I think we’re pretty much on the same page here but I’m not sure I follow that last part. 

Malik: Spreading awareness on dengue risk, telling people how to stop Aedes mosquitos from breeding around the house, these things presume people will jump to action afterwards.

Isa: Wouldn’t they? Prevention trumps cure, always. I check around my home every week now. And I’m not belitting the situation or anything, but dengue is endemic to Malaysia so it’s never going away.

Malik: You’re the exception, bro. A lot of people, they may be aware of the risk but awareness isn’t enough to spur action. Out of sight, out of mind and all that. Plus “never going away” isn’t quite the same as “spiralling out of control.”

Isa: But the risk is real. Why would people not do anything? 

Malik: There is great inertia in doing nothing about a negative possibility until you absolutely have to. Until it’s staring you in the face.

Isa: I guess I see what you mean. But I must say I do see a lot of people taking proactive action where I live. A lot of construction areas are being issued stop-work orders for harbouring Aedes habitats these days, I heard.

Malik: Apparently not the case for a lot of areas, bro. Going by the number of new cases we’re seeing, these aren’t enough. 

Isa: Okay, what do you think should be done?

Malik: I’m all for declaring a dengue epidemic now. The Health Minister can do that under The Prevention And Control Of Infectious Diseases Act 1988.

Isa: Sounds... drastic. Is dengue considered an infectious disease anyhow? The Aedes mosquito spreads it but I don’t think it can be passed from person to person.

Malik: The Act defines epidemic as an “extension of a disease by a multiplication of cases in an area.” To me, that sounds like dengue right now — growing number of cases in the country, especially Selangor. 

Isa: Okay, say dengue qualifies as an infectious disease under the Act. What does declaring an epidemic do?

Malik: A lot, man. The Act would make it mandatory for anyone gaining awareness of a dengue infection to notify the nearest health office or hospital or police station. It would be an offence not to do so.

Isa: That sounds helpful, but...

Malik: Wait, that’s not all. Here’s the most important part to me. If the government declares an epidemic, the Act empowers appointed officers to compel people to seek treatment or be quarantined or enforce any other measures the government think necessary.

Isa: You’re saying the government can force people to clean up their neighbourhoods?

Malik: Exactly. Declare epidemic and the government can legally force everyone and anyone to comply with whatever measures Putrajaya think necessary to stop the rising number of infections.

Isa: Now I’m still not sure I agree, but I see where you’re coming from. Are you thinking Armed Forces being mobilised and that sort of thing?

Malik: Maybe, I don’t know. The smart people in Putrajaya can work out the details on whatever works, because whatever they’re doing now aren’t working enough. Lives are at stake here. Malaysians are dying by the day.

* This is the personal opinion of the columnist.