30 die of dengue fever

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