People asked to watch out for dengue fever

People asked to watch out for dengue fever

JAKARTA: The city administration has alerted the public not to
be complacent about the low incidence of dengue fever in October,
as the dangerous disease is set to surge again during the next
few months.

"October always sees the lowest number of dengue fever cases
throughout the year. But people should take necessary precautions
this month for a possible surge in the number of cases during the
coming months," the City's Health Office Chief, Abdul Chalik
Masulili said here on Friday.

He said that necessary precautions included draining open
water pipes, and discarding bottles and other open containers
that can catch rain water and create an environment for the Aedes
Aegypty mosquito, which causes the disease, to breed.

He said the city health office had undertaken fumigation of
the mosquitoes in five Jakarta mayoralties since April.

During this month, only 84 cases of dengue fever have been
reported, none of which have proven fatal. Next month, the city
official said, the disease was expected to surge as usual.--JP