City fears dengue cases' effect

City fears dengue cases' effect

JAKARTA (JP): Deputy Governor for Social Welfare R.S. Museno
said yesterday the city administration will continue to conceal
the number of dengue fever victims because of the adverse affect
such reports could have on tourism.

Museno said the a policy set by the municipal public
relations office is justifiable. "Publication of the figures
could have a negative effect on the tourist sector."

He cited reports of a cholera outbreak in Bali that caused a
panic among Japanese tourists. "It is the right policy because of
the danger reports could reduce the number of tourists,
especially foreign ones, who plan to visit Jakarta. Remember what
happened in Bali. News reports caused many Japanese to cancel
plans to visit there."

He added that the city administration does not want that to
happen here.

Earlier this month, the City Health Agency refused to reveal
the exact number dengue fever cases because City Public
Relation's Office asked them not to release figures on the
disease.

The Ministry of Health, however, has been releasing periodic
reports on incidence of the fever throughout Indonesia.

An official at the national health ministry office said
tourists should be told about dengue fever and how to avoid
contracting it, and that revealing outbreak figures is vital to
motivating public participation in the dengue fever eradication
drive.

Data at the Ministry of Health indicates that as of June 17,
reports of 3,024 people with the disease and 43 deaths had come
in. In May, 1,880 cases and 28 deaths were reported.

Museno said the most important thing is the city
administration's programs to prevent the spread of the disease.

"The health agency has been conducting various preventive
programs, such as fumigation in locations which are prone to the
disease, as well as holding public presentations on how to
prevent the spread of the disease by eliminating the places
mosquitoes lay eggs," he said.

The aedes aegypti mosquito carries the disease which causes a
high fever, rash and hemorrhaging.

Museno urged the public to participate in preventing the
spread of the disease by obeying the advice given by the health
ministry.

He said people should report any cases of dengue fever in
their areas to subdistrict offices immediately, so the city
health agency can fumigate.

"This is a unique disease in that the mosquito carrying it
lays its eggs in clear, standing water. It will take special
determination to eliminate it," Museno said.

Museno rejected the idea that people would fail to participate
in the anti-dengue fever drive if the danger was not clear
because outbreak figures were not publicized.

"The public's participation is not determined by figures. All
they need is regular public presentations on the danger of the
disease," he said.

He added that the city administration will continue its
efforts to prevent the spread of the disease. (yns)