Dengue fever hits Palu

PALU, Central Sulawesi: Marking its return to the Central Sulawesi capital of Palu after an absence of nearly three years, dengue fever has affected at least 30 people, mostly children.

Medical workers have identified the hardest hit area as the West Palu district, where the disease has claimed at least three lives over the past three weeks.

An official at the local health office, Rohaya, told Antara that the disease had shown signs of spreading. She said, however, that her office could only provide residents with information about the disease.

Rohaya warned that the prevalence of the disease would intensify during the rainy season, which has already begun.

A dengue fever outbreak in the city claimed seven lives in early 1998. (amd)