Billions spent on dengue

BANDAR LAMPUNG, Lampung: Indonesia spends Rp 47.25 billion (US$17.83 million) annually on curbing the spread of dengue across the country, an official said.

Dr. Hadi Abednego, director general for the prevention of communicable diseases at the Ministry of Health, was quoted by Antara as saying Tuesday that dengue prevalence increases every year while efforts to curb its spread are often hampered by public ignorance.

"The disease causes a great deal of losses, including lives," he said.

The ministry routinely holds public education programs on dengue, especially at the beginning of the dry and monsoon seasons as that is when the Aedes aegypti mosquitoes, that carry the disease, lay eggs. (swe)