Kuala Lumpur, March 13 (IANS): Malaysia's eastern Sabah state has recorded 913 cases of dengue fever between January and March 10, marking an increase of 70 cases compared to the same period last year, the media reported on Sunday.

The state's Health Department Director Christina Rundi said the coastal Sandakan district reported the highest number of cases of the debilitating disease at 319, followed by Kota Kinabalu at 152 and Tawau with 72, out of the total number of cases in the state, EFE news reported.

However, the number of dengue cases could have been much higher in Sandakan, as following the month-long Dengue Control and Prevention Mega Operation, which ends on March 15, case numbers had fallen by 96 percent in the district, she said.

Under that operation, dengue control and prevention activities have been conducted in 112 localities, with inspections being carried out in 12,014 premises.

Insecticide fogging was also carried out in 150 localities.