More malaria victims in Indragiri Hilir

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