KUALA LUMPUR ~ Malaysia is mounting a dengue-eradication campaign ahead of Visit Malaysia Year in 2007, after a recent spike in cases, Deputy Prime Minister Najib Razak said.

Free larvicide will be distributed to schools and homes in a bid to curb outbreaks that could deter tourists, Najib told the Star newspaper, after cases jumped to 800 per week from normal levels of 400 per week.

“It is essential that Kuala Lumpur and the Klang Valley in general are seen as clean and free from any dengue outbreak,” he said.