Dengue fever cases up sharply on last year

JAKARTA (JP): The number of people infected with dengue fever in the capital is projected to jump from last year's figure of 5,700 to 17,100 by the end of this year, according to the deputy chairman of the city health agency Rasjid Piarah.

Fifteen thousand people have been infected so far this year, he said on Wednesday at a discussion on how best to disseminate information needed to fight the disease.

The discussion, which was attended by about 50 people, was opened by Deputy Governor for Welfare Affairs Djailani.

"Dengue fever is expected to infect about 900 people next month and a further 1,200 in December due mainly to the upcoming rainy season, which is expected to be marked by unusually heavy rainfall as a result of the La Nina weather phenomenon," Rasjid said.

City health agency data shows that fatal cases of dengue fever now stand at 123 so far this year, he said.

Rasjid reiterated that destroying the habitat of the Aedes aegypti mosquito, the dengue fever vector, was a more effective means of fighting the disease than using insecticide.

"By destroying habitat, fully grown mosquitoes will take more than three months to return, but by using insecticide they will be back again in less than two months," he said.

Djailani said a nationwide educational campaign promoting awareness of the destruction of mosquito habitat was staged in April.

"Like it or not, the people have to be involved in the mosquito eradication program," Djailani said.

He said people had thus far only made an effort to eradicate the mosquito when ordered to do so by the heads of their neighborhood units and communities.

He strongly urged the people to take the necessary measures on a regular basis, both for their own and other people's benefit.

Djailani also reiterated the importance of cleaning any water- filled containers to prevent the mosquitoes from breeding. (ivy/hhr)