Official warns of dengue fever threat

JAKARTA (JP): The irregular rainfall this wet season will pose the danger of a dengue fever epidemic in the capital, a health official said Tuesday.

Aslan Lasman, head of the city health agency, said the number of victims would be comparable to last year, in which 133 deaths and 15,422 infections were attributed to the disease.

The current weather pattern, which is causing heavy rainfall in Jakarta, would create the ideal conditions for aedes aegypti mosquitoes, the dengue fever carriers, to breed, Lasman said.

"Based on past experiences, the outbreak always occurs in March. That's why, as the month nears, all Jakartans should prepare themselves so they don't become victims of the fever," Lasman said.

He said the city administration will on Thursday launch a massive campaign to limit the areas the mosquitoes can breed in.

"The anti-dengue fever operation is the most effective way to stop an outbreak. During the campaign, residents are urged to also take active roles to halt the life cycle of the mosquitoes," he said.

The use of insecticide would be ineffective in killing the aedes aegypti mosquitoes, as was experienced last April when the city was severely hit by the fever.

Last year's outbreak in Jakarta was said to be one of the most serious cases of such an epidemic in recent history.

Hospitals were overflowing with dengue fever sufferers, and patients could even be seen lying in corridors of many hospitals and health centers.

Many hospitals were forced to turn patients away as they could not cope with the already huge number of patients.

Lasman expressed the hope that Jakartans of all walks of life would be willing to take part in the massive anti-dengue campaign, such as by keeping their houses and neighborhood tidy.

In next month's drive, for instance, all residents would be asked to meet once a week to empty and clean water tanks, buckets, pet's drinking bowls, vases and water reservoirs.

Residents, particularly those living in densely-populated areas, would also be urged to bury empty cans and bottles, Lasman said.

"I should stress here that there will be no fumigation in this year's campaign as it is ineffective," he said.

"I hope people will report to us if they find people claiming to be agency officials and want to fumigate houses for a fee." (ind)