Dengue fatality rate declining gradually

Dengue fatality rate declining gradually

The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

Over three months since the dengue fever outbreak began, the case
fatality rate (CFR) in the country is declining, but the outbreak
has yet to be brought under control as new patients are checking
into hospitals every day.

Speaking to reporters in Jakarta on Friday, Minister of Health
Achmad Sujudi said the national CFR had dropped to 1.2 percent
from 1.8 percent on March 1 due to improved treatment for
patients.

CFR is determined by the number of deaths divided by the
number of cases and is expressed as a percentage.

"We have really taken care of the sick, that's what's
important," said the minister. The government has set a target of
reducing the CFR to 1 percent nationwide in May.

The minister also said the number of new cases registered
daily was steadily decreasing, but the outbreak would only end
after the end of the rainy season.

Spokeswoman for the ministry Marini Reksodiprojo said that
cumulatively the number of people infected with the mosquito-
borne disease had reached around 35,000 nationwide, with the
death toll reaching 427.

Dengue fever occurs annually in Indonesia, with a peak
occurring every five years. The disease is spread by the Aedes
Aegypti mosquito, which breeds in clean, standing water.

The best prevention is to cover water containers and to clean
out bathroom water storage basins.

Although the CFR has decreased in terms of year on year
figures in Indonesia, the number of cases has shown no signs of
declining, which underlines the country's inability to prevent
dengue fever from recurring.

Sujudi said the government had not lifted the extraordinary
status in 12 provinces in Indonesia, namely all the six provinces
in Java, Nanggroe Aceh Darussalam, Jambi, South Kalimantan, South
Sulawesi, as well as East and West Nusa Tenggara. Jakarta remains
the hardest hit province.

However in Riau, head of the Riau Health Agency, Roesmawi
Rifin, said the provincial government considered the outbreak an
extraordinary occurrence after four patients died of dengue
within a week.

"This happens because the public lacks awareness of the
symptoms of dengue fever," he said.

Thus far, 271 people have been infected in Riau and Riau
Islands, 95 of them in Pekanbaru.

In Nanggroe Aceh Darussalam, two people of the 73 infected so
far have died.

"The dengue fatality rate in Aceh is the highest in
Indonesia," said head of the province's health agency Mulya
Hasjmi.

The local administration has waived all charges for all
underprivileged patients in hospitals. The administration even
donates Rp 400,000 (US$47.33) to anyone who has dengue.

To prevent further spread, fogging, to kill adult mosquitoes,
was conducted in a radius of 100 meters to 200 meters from where
a dengue patient was found.

In Indramayu, West Java, the regental government ordered all
medical workers to stay in town until the outbreak ended. Regent
Irianto said on Friday his administration would take harsh
measures against those who violated the order, including
suspension.

"Doctors and other medical workers cannot leave the town until
there is significant decline in the number of patients. They have
to stand by for dengue patients," he said.

There have been 375 dengue patients, with 12 fatalities across
the regency.