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)