Dengue fever outbreak requires public action<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): The Ministry of Health and Social Welfare has
\nrecorded a staggering 1,547 cases of dengue hemorrhagic fever in
\nJakarta, Padang and Surabaya, which has already left 12 people
\ndead this year.<\/p>\n
The cases were recorded between Jan. 1 and Feb. 12 this year,
\nMinister Achmad Sujudi said on Tuesday.<\/p>\n
The minister further warned people to be alert.<\/p>\n
\"Public participation is needed to fight the incurable
\ndisease,\" he said on the sidelines of a hearing with Commission
\nVII of the House of Representatives.<\/p>\n
Without people's awareness of the need to clean up the
\nenvironment and eradicate possible mosquito breeding sites, the
\ndiseases will prevail, especially in densely-populated areas,
\nSujudi added.<\/p>\n
\"These dengue fever cases are unusual as the number is very
\nhigh. Outbreaks of the disease usually peak during the weather
\ntransition period in April instead of the beginning of the year,\"
\nDirector General for Communicable Diseases Umar Fahmi told The
\nJakarta Post.<\/p>\n
\"We have alerted all cities in Java as dengue fever outbreaks
\ntend to occur in densely populated areas. We have also detected a
\nchange in weather patterns over the past couple of months which
\nhave contributed to breeding conditions favored by Aedes aegypti
\nmosquitoes,\" Umar said.<\/p>\n
According to ministry data, in West Sumatra's capital of
\nPadang a total of 143 dengue hemorrhagic fever cases were
\nrecorded in the first six weeks of the year and two patients had
\ndied, while there were only a total of 185 dengue cases recorded
\nlast year.<\/p>\n
Jakarta has recorded 1,097 cases this year, with five people
\nkilled by the illness, compared to a total of 1,993 cases in 2000
\nwhich left 15 people dead.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, in East Java 307 cases have been recorded this year
\nwith five patients having died, compared to 296 cases with two
\ndeaths last year.<\/p>\n
\"We have deployed a team to monitor and examine the patients
\njust in case a new strain of dengue's serotipe has emerged,\" Umar
\nsaid.<\/p>\n
There is still no cure for the illness, which has different
\nstrains ranging from Serotipe I to Serotipe IV.<\/p>\n
\"Thailand, however, has developed a vaccine to cure it ... but
\nit is still being tested,\" Umar added.<\/p>\n
In certain areas, such as in Purwokerto in Central Java, the
\ndisease can be eradicated through joint community programs.<\/p>\n
\"Therefore we are developing a replica of the program used in
\nPurwokerto to be imposed in 10 other cities including Makassar,
\nManado, Semarang, parts of Jakarta and Surabaya,\" he said,
\nstressing that people must be aware and responsible for cleaning
\ntheir environment.<\/p>\n
Umar said that the Aedes aegypti mosquitoes which carry dengue
\nfever breed well during the weather transition period.<\/p>\n
\"The level of humidity, heat and adequate amounts of water
\ncontribute to a substantial growth in mosquito numbers. And
\nusually they become more aggressive in biting people,\" he
\nexplained.<\/p>\n
Areas located one kilometer above sea level, however, are
\nusually free of dengue fever, Umar revealed.<\/p>\n
\"But many areas are becoming more susceptible as a result of
\nglobal warming which raises the sea level, he said.<\/p>\n
\"In certain cases such as in Irian Jaya, the locals living in
\nhigh regions have caught the illness after moving or undertaking
\nactivities in the lower regions,\" Umar said. (edt)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/dengue-fever-outbreak-requires-public-action-1447893297",
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