Dengue kills four in Medan

MEDAN, North Sumatra: Dengue fever has claimed the lives here of at least four people, including a mother, her new born baby and 12-year-old daughter and hospitalized at least 42 others in the last week.

Head of the Medan health office, Syahrial Anas, made a plea Saturday for residents to take precautionary measures against the continued spread of the disease which is transmitted by the Aedes mosquito.

The most tragic deaths, Antara reported, occurred when mother Fitriani Boru Hasibuan and her two daughters, 12-year old Dewi Juliani and baby Zainab, all died from the disease in a matter of days.

Fitriani's husband, Agus Mulyono, can only look on in despair now as the sole remaining member of his family, as son Abdul Rachman has also been admitted to Dr Pirngadi hospital for treatment.

The fourth reported casualty of the disease was an adult female who had just graduated from medical school. (aan)