Dengue on rise in E. Kalimantan

BALIKPAPAN, East Kalimantan: At least 11 people have died and nearly 280 others have been hospitalized in the two largest cities in the province this year due to dengue fever.

Balikpapan city administration spokesman Oemy Fascessly said the three dengue-related deaths in the city occurred in May.

About 138 people have been hospitalized in Balikpapan.

He said administration officials with the help of the local health office tried to increase awareness about the disease among the over 350,000 residents of Balikpapan, including preventive measures such as fumigation. However, the spread of the disease continued to be alarming.

Meanwhile in the provincial capital of Samarinda, eight people have died in the past five months, which also noted an increase in the incidence of the disease.

Antara reported that the number of dengue patients rose from six patients in January to 18 in February, 24 in March, 42 in April and 57 in May. (mds)