MALAYSIAN GOVT TO IDENTIFY INNOVATIVE METHODS TO CHECK DENGUE FEVER - NAJIB

PUTRAJAYA, Oct 11 (Bernama) -- Expressing disappointment over the "low"
public cooperation in the fight against dengue fever, Malaysian Prime Minister
Najib Tun Razak said Monday the government would continue to identify creative
and innovative methods to eradicate the mosquito-borne disease.

"... if you ask people to be responsible for their own particular area ...
to prevent the breeding of mosquitoes ... it doesn't seem to be working," he
said.

Najib said the government efforts were necessary because cooperation from
the public to check the spread of dengue fever was considered low.

"Dengue is a serious problem, so we have to tackle it. We have to find
creative and very innovative ways (to eradicate dengue fever)," he told
reporters after officiating at the 61st session of the World Health Organisation
(WHO) Regional Committee for the Western Pacific, here.

Also present was Health Minister Liow Tiong Lai.

Najib said the release of genetically-modified Aedes mosquitoes, carrier
of the dengue virus, for field testing was one of the methods of the government
to check the spread of the disease.

However, he said, the decision would need Cabinet approval.

The prime minister said people would be sceptical about anything new, "but
once it's proven, then it becomes mainstream medicine".

The National Biosafety Board has assessed the field experiment proposal from
the Institute of Medical Research to release the mosquitoes in Bentong, Pahang,
and Alor Gajah, Melaka, in early October.

When the male Aedes Aegypti are genetically-modified and mated with the
female Aedes mosquitoes in the environment, it is hoped that the killer genes
will cause the larvae to die. (The Aedes Aegypti mosquito transmits dengue
fever, Chikungunya and yellow fever.)

Earlier, in his speech, Najib said the Malaysian health care system would
be transformed into a more efficient and effective one in ensuring universal
access to health care.

He said the blueprint was currently being worked out to develop "1Care for
1Malaysia".

"It's a restructured health system that is responsive in meeting the health
care needs of the population, providing choices of quality health care and
ensuring universal coverage based on solidarity and equity," he said.

-- BERNAMA