GEORGE TOWN: Every year, between late March and early April, deadly dengue cases in the state will spike.

       Not this year. There was no spike, and in the final week of May, the state Health Department reported just one new dengue case in Central Seberang Prai.

       The reason?

       Penang identified the cause of the spike as the annual Qing Ming festival in early April – when families clean the graves of their ancestors and make offerings – and embarked on a campaign to keep it clean.

       While cleaning the graves, people end up littering the surrounding area with hundreds of containers used to offer food and as receptacles for joss sticks and candles.

       These collect rainwater, allowing the Aedes mosquitoes to breed.

       As far back as 2010, the authorities realised that the Qing Ming festivals always brought on a spike in dengue cases, to the point of creating clusters that took months to control.

       Since then, frequent public messages, discussions with cemetery caretakers and even a community awareness campaign were done to inform those heading for the cemeteries not to turn the place into a breeding ground for the mosquito.

       It looks like the campaign has succeeded.

       State environment committee chairman Phee Boon Poh said the low number of cases “shows us (Penangites) reaping the benefits of the efforts by both the local councils”.

       He said Qing Ming tended to coincide with the start of the inter-monsoon period, which brings late afternoon showers.

       “The last thing we need while still dealing with Covid-19 are clusters of dengue cases, but I am confident we can prevent them.

       “This is why we are against the uncontrolled acceptance of single-use plastics.

       “When people do not dispose of them properly, they can cause the Aedes mosquito to breed,” he said.

       Phee reminds the public not to get complacent and always watch out for unintended mosquito breeding spots, however small, in their homes and workplaces.

       The Aedes mosquito is also a vector for more than 50 other viruses around the world that cause, among others, chikungunya, Zika fever, Mayaro and yellow fever.