{
  "id": 3459261,
  "title": "Dengue deaths rise to 12 in Johor as JB remains hotspot",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/26/dengue-deaths-rise-to-12-in-johor-as-jb-remains-hotspot",
  "topic": "health",
  "section": "Health & Medicine",
  "published": "2026-08-26T07:37:01.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "New Straits Times",
    "slug": "new-straits-times",
    "url": "https://www.nst.com.my/news/nation/2026/08/1519128/dengue-deaths-rise-12-johor-jb-remains-hotspot"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "JOHOR BARU: A total of twelve individuals have succumbed to dengue fever in Johor thus far in 2023, a rise of four fatalities compared to the eight recorded in the same timeframe last year. Ling Tian Soon, chairman of the Johor State Health and Environment Committee, highlighted that Johor Baru continues to be the state's principal dengue hotspot, accounting for 492 cases or 75.6 percent of the total. Kulai follows with 115 cases. State statistics indicated 651 dengue cases were reported during Epidemiological Week 33, a 3.4 percent decrease from the 674 cases logged in the previous week. No fresh dengue fatalities were reported during the week; however, cumulative cases surged by 119.6 percent to 9,290 as of August 23, up from 4,231 during the same period last year. During the week, 59 new outbreak localities were identified, with 44 in Johor Baru and 15 in Kulai. The total number of outbreak localities has climbed to 1,001, a 123.9 percent increase from 447 during the same period last year. Ling emphasized that 341 of the 651 cases reported during the week originated from outbreak localities, while 310 were identified in non-outbreak areas. Breeding sites were still discovered both within and outside homes, suggesting that residents need to improve vigilance in eliminating stagnant water where Aedes mosquitoes can breed. Enforcement teams have issued 3,694 notices amounting to RM1.9 million this year, with 78.7 percent already settled. Ling appealed to residents to eradicate mosquito breeding grounds, urged schools to conduct routine clean-up activities, and advised school bus operators to utilize aerosol sprays inside buses before picking up and delivering pupils.",
  "summary": "JOHOR BARU: Twelve people have died from dengue in Johor so far this year, four more than the eight deaths recorded during the same period last year.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}