City fears dengue cases' effect<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Deputy Governor for Social Welfare R.S. Museno
\nsaid yesterday the city administration will continue to conceal
\nthe number of dengue fever victims because of the adverse affect
\nsuch reports could have on tourism.<\/p>\n
Museno said the a policy set by the municipal public
\nrelations office is justifiable. \"Publication of the figures
\ncould have a negative effect on the tourist sector.\"<\/p>\n
He cited reports of a cholera outbreak in Bali that caused a
\npanic among Japanese tourists. \"It is the right policy because of
\nthe danger reports could reduce the number of tourists,
\nespecially foreign ones, who plan to visit Jakarta. Remember what
\nhappened in Bali. News reports caused many Japanese to cancel
\nplans to visit there.\"<\/p>\n
He added that the city administration does not want that to
\nhappen here.<\/p>\n
Earlier this month, the City Health Agency refused to reveal
\nthe exact number dengue fever cases because City Public
\nRelation's Office asked them not to release figures on the
\ndisease.<\/p>\n
The Ministry of Health, however, has been releasing periodic
\nreports on incidence of the fever throughout Indonesia.<\/p>\n
An official at the national health ministry office said
\ntourists should be told about dengue fever and how to avoid
\ncontracting it, and that revealing outbreak figures is vital to
\nmotivating public participation in the dengue fever eradication
\ndrive.<\/p>\n
Data at the Ministry of Health indicates that as of June 17,
\nreports of 3,024 people with the disease and 43 deaths had come
\nin. In May, 1,880 cases and 28 deaths were reported.<\/p>\n
Museno said the most important thing is the city
\nadministration's programs to prevent the spread of the disease.<\/p>\n
\"The health agency has been conducting various preventive
\nprograms, such as fumigation in locations which are prone to the
\ndisease, as well as holding public presentations on how to
\nprevent the spread of the disease by eliminating the places
\nmosquitoes lay eggs,\" he said.<\/p>\n
The aedes aegypti mosquito carries the disease which causes a
\nhigh fever, rash and hemorrhaging.<\/p>\n
Museno urged the public to participate in preventing the
\nspread of the disease by obeying the advice given by the health
\nministry.<\/p>\n
He said people should report any cases of dengue fever in
\ntheir areas to subdistrict offices immediately, so the city
\nhealth agency can fumigate.<\/p>\n
\"This is a unique disease in that the mosquito carrying it
\nlays its eggs in clear, standing water. It will take special
\ndetermination to eliminate it,\" Museno said.<\/p>\n
Museno rejected the idea that people would fail to participate
\nin the anti-dengue fever drive if the danger was not clear
\nbecause outbreak figures were not publicized.<\/p>\n
\"The public's participation is not determined by figures. All
\nthey need is regular public presentations on the danger of the
\ndisease,\" he said.<\/p>\n
He added that the city administration will continue its
\nefforts to prevent the spread of the disease. (yns)<\/p>",
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