Dengue fever proliferates despite government efforts
Dengue fever proliferates despite government efforts
Dewi Santoso, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta
Repeated warnings from the government to the public to take
preventive measures against dengue fever at the beginning and the
end of the rainy season, apparently have not done any good as
around 300 Jakartans still suffered from the disease this year
alone.
Director of Communicable Diseases at the Ministry of Health
Umar Fahmi Achmadi said on Tuesday that he had repeatedly called
on the public to fight the disease by removing standing water
where mosquitoes may breed.
"I don't understand why we have to go over the same ground
again and again. I've said many times that fogging alone will not
be effective as it can only kill the mosquitoes and not their
larvae. The most effective way (to combat the disease) is for the
community to inspect and clean areas in and around their homes
that may be breeding places for mosquitoes," he said.
He did not deny that actions from the government such as
fogging and epidemiological investigation were essential, "but
public participation in cleaning the area around their homes is
very important in preventing the spread of the disease".
According to Jakarta Health Agency head A. Choliq Masulili, as
of Feb. 3 the city recorded approximately 300 cases of dengue
fever.
This number reflects a decrease in dengue cases as compared to
the same month last year, which reached 505 cases in January and
443 in February.
The agency data also showed that dengue fever peaked in 1998
with 15,360 cases, and again in 2003 with 14,071 cases due to the
five-year cycle of the disease.
Choliq claimed that the agency had taken preventative actions
by monitoring the cases through hospitals and public health
centers in each subdistrict.
He said that the agency would follow up on every report of
dengue fever with epidemiological investigation to confirm that
the disease was genuine in that area.
"If it's confirmed then the agency will send officers to
fumigate the whole area," he told The Jakarta Post.
Masulili asserted that the most effective way to prevent the
disease from spreading was to have the public participate in
cutting the metamorphosis cycle of the mosquitoes, the carrier of
the dengue fever virus, by changing the water in bathroom water
storage tanks and by disposing of empty cans where rainwater may
accumulate.
Dengue virus is transmitted by the aedes aegypti mosquito,
which lays its eggs on the surface of clean, still water.
The symptoms of Dengue include a fever of more than 38 Celsius
degrees for between two and seven days, headaches, nausea and a
red rash on the skin. The incubation period after a person is
bitten by the mosquito is between eight and 10 days for adults
and four to six days for children.
It is recommended that those bitten by the mosquito drink
water mixed with salt and sugar to increase the body's
electrolytes.
I-Box
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Incidence of Dengue in Jakarta
1995-2003
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.TB2.10"
Year No. of cases
1995 5,861 cases
1996 7,081 cases
1997 5,190 cases
1998 15,360 cases
1999 3,998 cases
2000 8,729 cases
2001 8,820 cases
2002 5,750 cases
2003 14,071 cases
How to prevent dengue virus from spreading
1. Drain stagnant water in every possible places as they are
prone to mosquitoes larvae and frequently change the water in
bath containers and birds' drinking cups.
2. Close places that are already nested by dengue-infected
mosquito larvae or place lids on water containers.
3. Bury scattered cans and tires that could contain water to
prevent the mosquito from laying eggs and spreading. Use mosquito
abatement powder (abate) to kill the mosquito eggs.