Three more die of malaria<\/p>\n
Luh Putu Trisna Wahyuni and Fadli, The Jakarta Post, Mataram\/Batam<\/p>\n
Three more people in East Lombok regency have died of malaria
\nsince Friday, bringing the total number of deaths in the current
\noutbreak to nine.<\/p>\n
Two of the three latest deaths occurred in the subdistricts of
\nSekarwangi and Ijobalit, while the other death was in neighboring
\nPijot subdistrict.<\/p>\n
The number of residents in the regency being treated for
\nmalaria rose from 266 to 380 over the weekend. Patients are being
\ntreated at three community health centers. However, because of
\nthe large number of people affected by this outbreak the centers
\nhave become severely overcrowded.<\/p>\n
The outbreak in the regency began at the end of October. Tests
\nhave confirmed that most of the patients have been infected with
\nthe virulent falciparus strain of malaria, which attacks the
\nbrain.<\/p>\n
To prevent the spread of the disease, the government has
\nfumigated in the regency to reduce the number of malaria-carrying
\nmosquitoes.<\/p>\n
West Nusa Tenggara provincial health office deputy head, I
\nKomang Gerudug, said poor sanitation was to blame for the spread
\nof malaria. Gerudug urged residents to clean up standing water
\nnear their homes and offices to reduce the malaria-carrying
\nmosquito population.<\/p>\n
This year has been an especially bad one for malaria in East
\nLombok compared to previous years. In 2004, 49 people were
\ndiagnosed with malaria and two died.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, in Batam, Riau Islands province, 277 people in
\nBatam city have fallen ill with dengue fever since January, with
\nnine deaths. This figure is much higher than last year, with only
\n126 people infected with dengue for all of 2004, with six deaths.<\/p>\n
A spokesman for the Batam Authority Hospital, Azwar, said on
\nMonday the number of dengue patients rose sharply in February and
\nNovember, with 39 people admitted for treatment in February and
\n26 so far in November.<\/p>\n
The hospital has set up a team of 19 doctors to treat the
\ndengue patients, Azwar said.<\/p>\n
With heavy rains in Batam since September, conditions are
\nideal for the aedes aegypty-carrying mosquitoes, which breed in
\nstanding water.<\/p>",
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