Dengue cases double in four days<\/p>\n
Abdul Khalik, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta<\/p>\n
The number of dengue fever cases in Jakarta jumped from 263 cases
\non Tuesday to 400 cases on Saturday, an official said.<\/p>\n
The Jakarta health agency spokesman Evy Zelfino said on
\nSaturday that the total number of cases since December was 835,
\nwhile two patients have died.<\/p>\n
"The number of dengue fever cases always increases in the
\nrainy season. After the floods in the coming weeks, the figure
\ncan jump to an alarming level because the standing water is a
\nbreeding place for the mosquito and bacteria of other flood-borne
\ndiseases, such as diarrhea and leptospirosis," she told The
\nJakarta Post.<\/p>\n
Evy explained that a pattern of the endemic every December to
\nMarch, is when Jakarta is heavily inundated with water.<\/p>\n
The health agency recorded around 18,000 cases of dengue from
\nDecember 2003 to March 2004, with about 82 deaths, mostly
\nchildren. The highest number of cases occurred in February and
\nMarch, in which over 5,000 people contracted the disease.<\/p>\n
The agency's data also showed that during the same period for
\ndengue cases in Greater Jakarta hit a high of 15,360 in 1998,
\n3,998 in 1999, 8,729 in 2000, 8,820 in 2001, and 5,750 in 2002.<\/p>\n
In an effort to curb the exposure of the disease, the agency
\nencouraged residents to drain water tanks, cover tubs and bury
\nused cans, and to fumigate the neighborhood once a week.<\/p>\n
"We have also conducted mapping all areas in the capital
\naccording to its status so that we can concentrate on prevention
\nand medication measures," Evy added.<\/p>\n
Dengue fever is transmitted by Aedes aegypty mosquito, which
\nis active during daylight hours and can be identified by the
\nblack and white stripes on its legs.<\/p>\n
The symptoms include a fever of more than 38 Celsius degrees
\nthat lasts between two and seven days, headaches, severe joint
\npain, nausea and skin rashes.<\/p>\n
The incubation period for the disease is between eight and 10
\ndays for adults, and six days for children. There is no vaccine
\nor chemical prophylaxis available against dengue.<\/p>\n
Leptospirosis is a disease, which bacteria is transmitted
\nthrough the urine of rats and domesticated animals. The patients
\ndisplay various symptoms, including a prolonged fever, yellowish
\neyes and fatigue, which requires immediate treatment.<\/p>\n
The health agency has classified three subdistricts -- Pondok
\nPinang and Kebayoran Lama in South Jakarta, and Kayu Manis in
\nCentral Jakarta -- as red status, while 70 others as yellow
\nstatus. Red status means three or four people have dengue fever,
\nand\/or at least one person has died in the last three weeks in
\nthe area, while yellow status means one or two people have
\ndengue.<\/p>\n
The agency had also ordered hospitals to check the blood of
\npatients who have a fever so that they could be treated with
\nproper medication immediately, Evy said.<\/p>",
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