Dengue status to stay extraordinary

JAKARTA: Dengue fever has killed at least 587 people and hospitalized 50,854 others in 30 of the country's 32 provinces since Jan. 1, 2004, Health Minister Achmad Sujudi said on Friday.

He also said although the dengue fever outbreak had appeared to subside, the extraordinary status imposed in 12 provinces would be maintained until after they were declared dengue-free.

"Only a few dozen dengue patients are being treated in those provinces, but since the rainy season will last until the end of April, the extraordinary status will be kept," Sujudi said.

The 12 affected provinces are: Aceh, Jambi, Banten, Jakarta, South Jakarta, West Java, Central Java, Yogyakarta, East Java, Bali, West Nusa Tenggara and East Nusa Tenggara.

The government has provided Rp 800,000 in medical assistance and free treatment each for dengue patients coming from poor families. -- Antara