30 die of dengue fever

SAMARINDA, East Kalimantan: The death toll from dengue fever in the province reached 30 and was expected to continue increasing amid the incoming rainy season, says a local official.

Ridwan Masrun, chief of the East Kalimantan health ministry office, said the number of dengue cases had increased from around 700 cases in 2000 to almost 1,200 cases this year. This had a lot to do with local people's low awareness of keeping a clean environment and the high level of population movement in the province, he added.

"The local government has frequently staged anti-mosquito campaigns to eradicate dengue epidemics, but local people, mostly those living in urban areas, have yet to respond positively," he said

Ridwan called on local people to keep the environment in and around their residence clean and to join the ongoing fogging program to eradicate the mosquitoes that transmit the disease.

"Those who suffer high fever as part of the preliminary symptoms of the disease should visit a physician or go to hospital for medical treatment. The sooner victims gain medical assistance the sooner they will get well," he said. -- Antara