(ANN/THE STAR) – Malaysia’s Health Ministry has taken proactive measures in the fight against dengue fever by installing 110 units of Aedes mosquito auto dissemination trap devices at Sibu Central Market in Sarawak.
This initiative aims to prevent the spread of dengue cases in the area.
Sibu Municipal Council (SMC) chairman Clarence Ting highlighted that Sibu Central Market is the first market in the state to be equipped with these devices. Each device costs MYR36 and is specifically designed to attract Aedes mosquitoes searching for breeding sites.
Once inside the trap, the mosquitoes come into contact with insecticide, which they then carry and spread to other breeding sites, effectively reducing the mosquito population and, consequently, dengue cases.
Ting pointed out that the effectiveness of these devices has been proven in peninsular Malaysia.
Despite only six reported dengue cases in Sibu so far this year, the council is committed to further reducing the incidence of the disease.
If successful, Ting plans to extend the use of these devices to other markets under SMC’s jurisdiction starting in April.
He also expressed his intention to encourage residents to install similar devices in their homes if they prove to be effective in reducing dengue cases.
