140 at Mt. Merapi contract malaria

MAGELANG, Central Java: Around 140 people living on the slopes of Mount Merapi in Magelang district had contracted malaria in the first half of this year, a local official said here on Saturday.

Magelang district head Hasyim Afandi told Antara the local health office had taken measures to curb the outbreak, including taking blood samples of the sick.

The health office had also sent its personnel to the area to check the state of health and sanitation among the local community.

"People living on the slopes of Mount Merapi were also being counseled on how to handle and combat malaria," Hasyim said. (bby)