Dengue fever kills 125 in S. Sumatra

PALEMBANG, South Sumatra: An alarming trend has developed here judging from the number of people suffering and dying from dengue fever over the last five years.

In the first two months of this year alone, the disease has killed 125 people.

In January, 86 of the 1,300 people suffering from dengue fever died, while last month there were 1,256 cases with 39 deaths.

The total number infected in the province in 1993 was 473 with 20 deaths, in 1994 there were 1,073 cases with 35 proving fatal, and in 1995 there was a huge jump to 2,315 cases with 70 deaths.

In 1996 there was a sharp decline to "just" 1,336 cases but 87 deaths were recorded, while last year there were 1,079 cases of which 69 died.

The administrative coordinator of the South Sumatra health office, Dr. Suwandi Makmur, said the disease had spread throughout the province and was not isolated to urban or rural areas alone.

"The Aedes Aegypti mosquito which spreads the disease can travel easily in buses and trains," he said, calling for public transportation vehicles to be thoroughly cleaned and sprayed before departing.

He said first aid for those infected is to ensure an ample supply of liquid for the body and tablets which would help reduce fever. (mds)