23 die of dengue in South Sumatra

PALEMBANG, South Sumatra: At least 23 people have died in South Sumatra of dengue fever during the first month of the year, according to a local health official.

The head of the South Sumatra office of the health ministry, Deddy Ruswendi, was quoted by Antara as saying that the province was relatively prone to such outbreaks with reports of fatalities in four of the 10 regencies.

He said Palembang, the provincial capital, recorded the highest number of deaths with 14, followed by the Musi Rawas regency with eight victims.

Deddy called on the public to continue sanitation efforts and keep their environment clean, paying particular attention to checking water reservoirs which are known to be the spawning ground of the mosquito larvae which transmit the disease. (10)