Three more die of malaria
Three more die of malaria
Luh Putu Trisna Wahyuni and Fadli, The Jakarta Post, Mataram/Batam
Three more people in East Lombok regency have died of malaria
since Friday, bringing the total number of deaths in the current
outbreak to nine.
Two of the three latest deaths occurred in the subdistricts of
Sekarwangi and Ijobalit, while the other death was in neighboring
Pijot subdistrict.
The number of residents in the regency being treated for
malaria rose from 266 to 380 over the weekend. Patients are being
treated at three community health centers. However, because of
the large number of people affected by this outbreak the centers
have become severely overcrowded.
The outbreak in the regency began at the end of October. Tests
have confirmed that most of the patients have been infected with
the virulent falciparus strain of malaria, which attacks the
brain.
To prevent the spread of the disease, the government has
fumigated in the regency to reduce the number of malaria-carrying
mosquitoes.
West Nusa Tenggara provincial health office deputy head, I
Komang Gerudug, said poor sanitation was to blame for the spread
of malaria. Gerudug urged residents to clean up standing water
near their homes and offices to reduce the malaria-carrying
mosquito population.
This year has been an especially bad one for malaria in East
Lombok compared to previous years. In 2004, 49 people were
diagnosed with malaria and two died.
Meanwhile, in Batam, Riau Islands province, 277 people in
Batam city have fallen ill with dengue fever since January, with
nine deaths. This figure is much higher than last year, with only
126 people infected with dengue for all of 2004, with six deaths.
A spokesman for the Batam Authority Hospital, Azwar, said on
Monday the number of dengue patients rose sharply in February and
November, with 39 people admitted for treatment in February and
26 so far in November.
The hospital has set up a team of 19 doctors to treat the
dengue patients, Azwar said.
With heavy rains in Batam since September, conditions are
ideal for the aedes aegypty-carrying mosquitoes, which breed in
standing water.