Malaysia Records Steep Drop In Dengue Cases In 2025 - Ahmad Zahid

PUTRAJAYA, Feb 23 (Bernama) -- Malaysia recorded a significant 54.7 per cent decline in dengue cases to 55,399 cases in 2025 compared with 122,423 cases in 2024, said Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi.

Ahmad Zahid, who is also Chairman of the Cabinet Committee on National Health (JKKN), said in a statement that the matter was presented at the JKKN Meeting No. 1 for 2026 which he chaired today.

“Deaths due to dengue complications also fell by 59.8 per cent, with 47 fatalities compared with 117 previously.

“Although this achievement is encouraging, all parties including government agencies, local authorities, the private sector and the community must continue to strengthen efforts to maintain environmental cleanliness to prevent a resurgence of cases in 2026,” he said.

In this regard, he said the Ministry of Health (MOH) will implement the Dengue-Free Community (KomBeD) initiative in selected localities through three main strategies, namely environmental management, empowering community engagement and entomological intervention.

He said the meeting also stressed the importance of complying with the Design and Building Structure Review Note issued by the Public Works Department in all development projects to prevent the breeding of Aedes mosquitoes.

On the JKKN meeting, Ahmad Zahid said it was convened specifically to address the health needs of the people holistically by mobilising close cooperation between the Federal and state governments under the Whole of Nation approach, in line with the government’s commitment.

“This meeting marks the beginning of a new phase in national health governance, with the integration of three previously separate main committees related to the National Healthy Malaysia Agenda (ANMS), Dengue, and Child Malnutrition now unified under a single strategic governance framework.

“This integration reflects the MADANI Government’s commitment to addressing the people’s health needs holistically, through close collaboration between the Federal and state governments under the Whole of Nation approach,” he said.

Under the ANMS, Ahmad Zahid said the government through MOH remains committed to ensuring well-being through various initiatives implemented to enhance health literacy.

“This includes the implementation of the ANMS Roadshow, the Malaysia Healthy and Prosperous Month (BMSS) celebration, outreach activities, and health promotion and advocacy throughout the First Half-Term (2021–2025).

“These efforts are also supported through the involvement of MyCHAMPION volunteers as well as improved access to services through the development of Wellness Hubs and the procurement of Wellness on Wheels (WoW),” he said.

For the Second Half-Term (2026–2030), he said ANMS will be strengthened with a Behavioural Insights approach based on behavioural science through the expansion of targeted initiatives to reduce the prevalence of diseases and health risk factors, thereby improving the quality of life of people of all ages.

“The government is committed to addressing the burden of malnutrition, but this effort requires strong synergy from parents as the key stakeholders.

“We invite parents to come forward as proactive volunteers to shoulder shared responsibility in ensuring that the quality and standards of nutrition at childcare centres (TASKA) are always safeguarded, for the future of the children we cherish,” he said.

Ahmad Zahid called on the entire government machinery, private sector and the people to work together to realise this agenda in building a healthy, prosperous and productive Malaysia.

-- BERNAMA