Release information on dengue fever: IDI<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Suppressing information on dengue fever will
\nlimit the public's knowledge on how to prevent it, the chairman
\nof the Indonesian Medical Association (IDI) said.<\/p>\n
Azrul Azwar told The Jakarta Post yesterday that public can
\nnot act against the disease if information, including the
\ndisclosure of figures on dengue cases, is restricted.<\/p>\n
\"If press reports are written with the intention to arouse
\npublic action, we need not fear widespread panic,\" he said.<\/p>\n
\"Prevention of the disease by the public is crucial as much of
\nthe necessary action must be done at home,\" Azrul said, including
\nscrubbing bathroom walls to wipe out mosquito eggs.<\/p>\n
Azrul was responding to fears among city health authorities
\nwho said the City Hall's public relations office told them not to
\nreveal figures, given the possible negative effects on tourism.<\/p>\n
A staff member of the city health agency said he became
\nstressed-out when trying to write a television script on dengue
\nwithout any figures.<\/p>\n
\"The audience would feel there is not much ground to the on-
\ngoing awareness campaign,\" the source, who requested anonymity,
\nsaid.<\/p>\n
The Ministry of Health promised yesterday to issue an update
\non the latest figures as soon as possible.<\/p>\n
The May figures for Jakarta were 1,880 cases with 28 deaths.
\nEast Jakarta ranked the highest with 779 cases and 16 deaths,
\nfollowed by Central Jakarta with 350 cases and four deaths.<\/p>\n
The ministry's directorate of diseases from animal sources
\nrecords the city's latest dengue figures at 32 per every 100,000
\npeople.<\/p>\n
Holani Achmad, the head of monitoring at the subdirectorate in
\ncharge of dengue, said the 95 percent target of an area free of
\naedes aegypti mosquito eggs has not been reached.<\/p>\n
\"Based on our samples we have only reached 80 percent to 90
\npercent, which means almost everyone has the mosquito eggs in
\ntheir homes,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Besides cleaning out still water where the mosquito lays its
\neggs, dark places where the mosquito hides must also be cleared,
\nwhich includes hanging spaces for clothes.<\/p>\n
Fumigation by trained personnel must be done in subdistricts
\nwhere dengue cases have doubled in a fortnight. Holani said
\nfumigation is free of charge as the Rp 390,000 (US$169.57)
\nallocated by the government for each location includes
\ntransportation, allowances for personnel and pesticide. (anr)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/release-information-on-dengue-fever-idi-1447893297",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
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