Kuala Lumpur, July 7 -- Malaysia recorded a sharp rise in dengue cases and related deaths in the first half of 2026, with fatalities increasing 66.7% and infections rising nearly 30% year-on-year.

The country reported 38,854 dengue cases as of June 27, up 29.1% from the same period last year. Dengue-related deaths rose from 18 to 30 over the same period.

Health authorities attributed the increase partly to a shift in the dominant dengue virus strain from DENV-2 to DENV-3. Rapid urbanisation, favourable weather conditions, mosquito breeding sites and increased population mobility have also contributed to the spread of the disease.

A spokesperson for Malaysia's Ministry of Health said public health interventions are based on epidemiologi...