City wards off dengue fever

City wards off dengue fever

The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

Governor Sutiyoso kicked off on Friday a weekly anti-mosquito
campaign in an effort to prevent an outbreak of the fatal dengue
fever in the capital.

Officiating the campaign launch, Sutiyoso called on Jakartans
to take active part in the city-wide effort.

As of September, 19,561 cases of dengue fever and 84 related
deaths have been recorded, as compared to 14,071 cases and 59
fatalities last year.

"Although the disease was discovered 36 years ago, no vaccine
has been developed against it," Sutiyoso said, adding that the
fast spread of the disease was caused by residents' neglect of
hygiene.

Sutiyoso said the fight to exterminate the Aedes aegypti
mosquitoes, who carry and transmit the dengue virus into humans,
must begin at their breeding grounds -- still, clear water.

"We will free the city from dengue fever with an all-out
attack on their breeding places... From now on, (everyone) must
participate in the effort every Friday from 9 a.m. to 9:30 a.m,"
he said.

The campaign, which is supported by a gubernatorial decree,
involves wailing ambulances, mosque drums and school and church
bells that call on residents to take part.

During the 30-minute period, Jakartans are to carry out the
three steps to exterminating mosquitoes, locally known as 3M:
empty standing water, cover water tanks and bury or dispose of
used bottles and cans.

City health agency head Abdul Chalik Masulili had said earlier
the campaign was adopted from Cuba, which eradicated the disease
after implementing the effort for three consecutive years.