Dengue claims more lives in some regions<\/p>\n
Apriadi Gunawan and Rusman, The Jakarta Post, Medan\/Samarinda<\/p>\n
The dengue fever epidemic has claimed more lives in several parts
\nof the country, despite reports that the number of cases was
\ndeclining.<\/p>\n
North Sumatra health office head Fatni Sulani said on
\nWednesday at least two more children died of dengue fever within
\nthe past month, while another was nursed back to health despite
\nhis critical condition.<\/p>\n
The two victims, from Asahan regency, North Sumatra, were the
\nfirst casualties recorded in 2004, she said.<\/p>\n
At least 24 dengue patients died last year in the province
\nwhen the disease affected 951 people there. Most of the deaths
\nwere recorded between September and October.<\/p>\n
The two latest victims died four days after being treated at
\nVita Insani hospital in Pematang Siantar earlier this month for
\nfever.<\/p>\n
Fatni said that dengue was endemic in Asahan.<\/p>\n
She admitted that her office had no precise data on the number
\nof dengue fever victims infected in the province in 2004.
\nHowever, she believes that this year's epidemic is not as severe
\nas 2003 although it is prevalent in many areas across the
\nprovince.<\/p>\n
Fatni said the health office was taking precautionary action
\nto reduce the number of victims, including providing free
\nfumigation in residential areas.<\/p>\n
Health offices in several districts have been asked to tell
\nlocals how to prevent the spread of dengue fever.<\/p>\n
In East Kalimantan, at least 15 people died as a result of
\ndengue between 2003 and March this year, officials said on
\nWednesday. They were among 983 patients hospitalized in the
\nprovince.<\/p>\n
In January and February, only eight of at least 404 sufferers
\ndied.<\/p>\n
Reports received from districts across East Kalimantan show
\nthat the biggest number of those infected were reported in
\nSamarinda municipality, where five out of 267 patients died.<\/p>\n
The latest data from the provincial health office shows that
\nduring the month of March, seven more victims died, bring the
\ndeath toll to 15.<\/p>\n
Endro Buono, head of the disease prevention and eradication
\nunit at the East Kalimantan health office, said that looking at
\nthe trend, it was possible that the number of patients would
\nincrease until the end of this month.<\/p>\n
The dengue cases would probably drop in April, when rainfall
\ndecreased, he said.<\/p>\n
Endro said the areas most prone to the disease were Bontang,
\nKutai Kertanegara, Balikpapan, North Penajam Pasir, East Kutai,
\nPasir, West Kutai and Nunukan.<\/p>\n
Densely populated places such as urban centers are more prone
\nto the mosquito-borne disease compared to village areas, he said.<\/p>\n
But he is optimistic that the number of dengue fever victims
\nwould drop as most health workers have been trained and hospitals
\nequipped to deal with such emergencies.<\/p>\n
Endro said there was no need to declare the dengue endemic an
\nextraordinary occurrence in East Kalimantan, citing the decrease
\nin the number of cases and deaths in the last few years.<\/p>",
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