Health office issues warning

Health office issues warning

A Jakarta Health Office official warned Jakartans yesterday of
the possibility of epidemics of dengue fever and diarrheal
diseases occurring during the coming monsoon season.

He also warned that people would be more prone to skin
diseases and respiratory infections when the rains came.

Soeharto Worjowidagdo, the chief of the office, said that a
dengue fever outbreak is expected in the wake of the rains.

The rainy season provides excellent breeding places for the
aedes aegepti, the mosquitoes which carry the virus that causes
the disease, as the fish ponds in gardens, the holes in bamboo
fences and other water receptacles fill up.

"The number of patients suffering from dengue fever in the
city reached 2,441, of which 30 died, in the period between
January and October of this year," he said.

The total number of victims of this disease is projected to
increase to about 3,000 by the end of this year, he said.

Soeharto said that during the dry season this year there were
high incidences of skin diseases, respiratory infections, eye
infections and diarrhea. He expects this trend to continue with
the coming rainy season. (22)