KUALA LUMPUR – Dengue has claimed more lives than Covid-19 in Malaysia so far this year, prompting the Health Ministry to develop an artificial intelligence (AI) system to better predict and contain outbreaks.
Health Minister Datuk Seri Dr Dzulkefly Ahmad told the Dewan Rakyat that 21 dengue-related deaths have been reported to date, compared to just one Covid-19 fatality.
The AI tool aims to identify potential hotspots before cases surge, allowing for faster and more targeted interventions.
He said Selangor remains the worst-hit state, followed by Kuala Lumpur. Although the current figures mark an improvement from 2023, when over 83,000 dengue cases and 117 deaths were recorded, concerns remain over the recurring threat.
Responding to Kuala Langat MP Datuk Dr Ahmad Yunus Hairi, Dzulkefly also cited encouraging results from the Wolbachia mosquito programme, now active in 45 locations and showing Aedes suppression rates of up between 45% to 100%.
He added that dengue vaccine research is ongoing at Universiti Malaya under ministry supervision. – July 22, 2025