More people suffer from dengue

JAKARTA (JP): The number of dengue sufferers in Jakarta rose again recently although there had been a marked decrease earlier last year, an official said yesterday.

The city administration's head of public relations, Soesila Darmoadji, said yesterday the number of dengue cases increased during December 1996 and January this year. Soesila, however, refused to reveal the number.

According to the head of the city health office, Aslan Lasman, the number of dengue cases had continuously decreased from 1,349 in May, to 1,098 in June plunging to only 246 in October.

Asman said the increase in reported dengue cases was due to the pools of stagnant water at dumping sites, which accelerated the breeding of Aedes Aegepty mosquitoes in the rainy season.

The health office conducted widespread pest control programs in 159 subdistricts between March and April last year and 165 subdistricts in November, and gave larvae inhibitor to selected 95 subdistricts in a bid to reduce mosquitoes habitats. (anr/04)