23 die of dengue in South Sumatra

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)