Dengue kills 156 people

SEMARANG: A total of 156 people in Central Java have died of dengue fever this year, a government official here has said.

Dadik Suhardadi, head of the local social affairs office, said most of the victims live in the coastal areas in the northern part of the province, Antara reported.

He said the number of people affected by the disease increased sharply this year to 7,371. Rembang regency tops the list with 1,008 sufferers and 20 fatalities, while the province capital, Semarang, ranks third with 956 sufferers and 18 fatalities.

The fatal disease is generated by a virus carried by Aedes Aegepty mosquitos.

Other affected regencies are Blora, Pati, Grobogan, Purworejo, Kendal, Klaten, Boyolali, and Karanganyar. (26)