Dengue situation in Malaysia.

Dengue has now emerged as one of the major public health problems in Malaysia. It was first reported in 1901 in Penang and since then the disease has become endemic throughout the country. The first case of dengue haemorrhagic fever (DHF) was reported in 1962. Subsequent to this, a major outbreak of DHF occurred in 1973 when almost the whole nation was involved. In 1974, a plan of action for prevention and control of dengue was put into immediate effect and the disease was made notifiable. The Destruction of Disease Bearing Insects Act (DDBIA, 1975) was introduced in 1975. In the last five years, between 1987-1991 ,' there has been an increase in the number of cases reported and in 199 1 , the country experienced the biggest outbreak of dengue. The 4-year epidemic cycle of dengue noted by Lo and Awin' prior to 1987 seems to be no longer true.