Dengue fever kills 18 people

JAKARTA (JP): The city health agency has reported that 18 people have died and 1,771 others have been hospitalized suffering from dengue fever, from January to May this year.

The head of the agency, Aslam Sumhudi, said yesterday that the deadly disease had hit 54 subdistricts in five mayoralties, which are areas prone to the disease.

He said 7,084 people were infected by the disease last year.

The agency has been taking preventive steps to curb the spread of the disease including fumigating in the 54 subdistricts. (yns)