This brings the total dengue cases reported this year to 12,942, compared to 19,423 cases in the corresponding period last year.

Health director-general Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah said the number of deaths due to dengue complications so far this year also increased to 24 compared to 13 in the corresponding period last year.

“The number of hotspots also increased in the 38th epidemiological week (ME) to 48 compared to 42 in the previous week,” he said in a statement.

Twenty-eight of the hotspots were in Selangor, 15 in Sabah, and five in Kuala Lumpur and Putrajaya.

Hisham also said there were eight cases of chikungunya recorded during the week, with three in Kuala Lumpur and Putrajaya, two each in Selangor and Penang, and one in Kelantan.

They brought the cumulative number of chikungunya cases to 646 to date.

On Zika, he said 1,452 blood samples and 15 urine samples were tested and all were negative.

Hisham also warned that the current hot and rainy weather was ideal for Aedes mosquitoes to breed.

He said preventive measures such as keeping your surroundings clean and litter-free should be undertaken by everyone.

“Aedes mosquitoes only need a little water to lay their eggs and the eggs can survive for eight months in dry conditions,“ he added.