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