Dengue fever in city on the increase
Dengue fever in city on the increase
JAKARTA (JP): The number of dengue fever sufferers here doubled last year compared to 1994, according to Jakarta municipality.
"Last year, 5,624 people were reported to have suffered the fever. An increase of 100 percent from the previous figure of 2,831 people," said Soenarjudarji, assistant to city secretary for social welfare. He added, however, that the mortality rate remains constant at 1,2 percent.
"Our figures reveal that out of 100 houses surveyed, nine to ten houses are found to be host to the aedes aegypti mosquito virus," he said at an award-giving ceremony for immunization yesterday.
The virus is responsible for the disease. Aedes aegypti carrying mosquitoes sting people during the early part of the day. The mosquitoes' radius does not exceed 100 meters, and they lay their eggs in clean water, contrary to the common belief that these mosquitoes breed in filthy water.
High fever for a week, acute pain throughout the body and a swollen liver are early symptoms of the disease. When the fever subsides, usually red spots will appear on the victim's skin. Victims need to be immediately hospitalized. Incidents of this contagious disease should be reported to the health agencies.
Soenarjudarji said almost 90 percent of Jakarta districts are prone to the disease.
The increase in the number of sufferers is assumed to be a result of past inconsistencies in battling the disease.
The last mass-insecticide spraying was conducted in April and November at 241 out of 264 sub-districts in Jakarta.
Jakarta Governor Surjadi Soedirja attributed the spread of the disease to the public's negligence.
Most people are not aware of the way the mosquitoes breed and settle in the houses, the governor said.
Failure faces the prevention program unless the public, on its own initiative, consistently destroys potential breeding areas, said Surjadi.
"Water containers, regardless of form and size, needs to be cleaned at least once a week to prevent the mosquitoes from breeding. Piles of junk should also be covered and cleaned," said Surjadi.
The government has launched a public education campaign to clean up breeding grounds, and encourage regular insecticide spraying to combat the disease. (14)