Dengue may rise over dry season

Bambang Nurbianto, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

An official with the City Health Agency warned residents of a possible increase in the number of dengue fever cases during the current transition period from the rainy season to the dry season.

"The transition period is a time for mosquitoes to breed because the rain comes irregularly. Therefore, we must keep alert for a possible increase in dengue fever cases," Evy Zelfino, the agency's spokeswoman, said on Monday.

Evy said irregular showers led to puddles that were ideal places for the Aedes aegypti mosquito -- which transmits dengue -- to lay eggs. However, when rain is continuous, there is a better chance the mosquito eggs will be swept away and killed.

She urged residents to remain vigilant in combating the disease, emphasizing the importance of 3M -- draining open tanks, covering clean water and burying used cans, all of which are breeding grounds for mosquitoes.

The Aedes aegypti mosquito can be identified by the black and white stripes on its legs.

The symptoms of dengue fever include a fever of more than 38 degrees Celsius that lasts between two and seven days, headaches, severe joint pain, nausea and skin rashes.

The incubation period for the disease is between eight and 10 days for adults, and four and six days for children.

According to the health agency, 3,541 people have been hospitalized in Jakarta with dengue since early this year. The number of deaths caused by the disease was 77 as of March 27.

Evy reiterated that Jakartans should not forget that dengue fever is endemic to the city, and could occur anytime of the year.

The Meteorology and Geophysics Agency (BMG) said on Monday that Jakarta and the surrounding areas were entering the transition period between the rainy season and the dry season, which would last about two months.

The BMG's forecasting and services division chief, Achmad Zakir, told The Jakarta Post this transition period would be marked by storms and higher-than-normal temperatures of up to 35 degrees Celsius.

Evy from the health agency said that besides dengue fever, the city could experience an increase in other diseases as well, including respiratory disease.

"Residents should also be on the alert for infectious diseases like typhoid fever and diarrhea while the city enters the dry season," she said.