More malaria victims in Indragiri Hilir

PEKANBARU, Riau: The death toll of the malaria epidemic in several villages in the Riau regency of Indragiri Hilir over the past month increased from 20 to 27 earlier this week.

Ekmal Rusydi, head of Riau's health office, said here on Friday that in order to check the spread of the mosquito- transmitted disease in the regency, his office had fumigated the area and applied sanitary measures for a cleaner environment.

He pointed out that the affected villages, particularly those in Mandah district, were difficult to access and did not have health clinics, so that most malaria cases did not receive immediate treatment.

Despite setting up clinics to provide first aid in the worst- hit villages, Masykur Abdullah, head of the regental health office, said the outbreak of malaria had never been as widespread as it is today. --Antara