El Niño Impact: Fearing Dengue Fever, Tasikmalaya Residents Stock Up on Mosquito Repellent

A prolonged dry season caused by the impact of El Nino has led to the emergence of mosquitoes in large numbers. The mosquito onslaught has made residents worried about dengue haemorrhagic fever (DBD), prompting them to stock up on mosquito repellent.

Toto Sontani, 55, a resident of Sambongpari, Mangkubumi District, Tasikmalaya, said that during the long dry season his family has suffered from mosquito attacks.

“This large-scale mosquito attack began in early April, and now much of our supply of various mosquito coils and burning repellents has been used up. These repellents are essential to anticipate the mosquito attacks,” said Toto Sontani on Thursday (30/7/2026).

According to Toto, environmental cleanliness is also the top priority for his family. Cleaning the house, he said, is carried out alongside mosquito eradication using repellent on a regular basis.

“We have bought several brands of spray repellent at varying prices, between Rp10,000 and Rp35,000. The mosquitoes don’t die straight away. The amount of spray repellent we’ve purchased is countless,” he said.

Meanwhile, Deputy Mayor of Tasikmalaya Diky Candranegara said the impact of El Nino has made the air hotter. This has triggered mosquitoes to breed, resulting in the emergence of mosquitoes in large numbers. He suspected this was likely due to the extreme weather.

In addition, he reminded residents of the importance of applying the 3M method to eradicate mosquito larvae, which is believed to be effective in preventing dengue haemorrhagic fever (DBD).

“We always use spray repellent and urge the public to stay alert, not be complacent, and routinely drain water containers, cover them and bury them (3M), as well as eradicating mosquito breeding sites and maintaining a clean and healthy lifestyle. Because the large numbers of mosquitoes appearing in homes must be eradicated so they don’t bite,” he concluded.