Rp 2b prepared to fight dengue

MAKASSAR, South Sulawesi: The Makassar municipality administration has provided no less than Rp 2 billion (US$225,500) to eradicate dengue fever which has killed 12 people so far this year.

"We are giving our full attention to the eradication of diseases which threaten the life of people, including dengue fever," Mayor Amiruddin Maula said upon the launch of an anti- dengue campaign at Banta-Bantaeng subdistrict on Thursday.

The fund will be used to finance a simultaneous program to fight the disease across the city.

The municipal health agency head, Armin Nurdin, most of the people died because of belated first aid. There are now 45 people receiving treatment in hospitals in the town.

The agency recorded 289 cases of dengue fever in the first two months of the year. Last year there were 1,464 cases registered, with 19 dead.

Armin said fumigation had been conducted to kill the aedes aegypti mosquito, which spreads the disease, but it was not enough to prevent the fever from claiming lives. -- Antara