Dengue fever cases up sharply on last year

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)