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Greater Jakarta suffers spike in dengue fever cases

The Greater Jakarta area recorded a spike in the number of dengue fever cases in January as the mosquito-borne virus is on the rise in several regions of the country, forcing those regions to be on alert

The Jakarta Post
Jakarta
Wed, January 30, 2019

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Greater Jakarta suffers spike in dengue fever cases

T

he Greater Jakarta area recorded a spike in the number of dengue fever cases in January as the mosquito-borne virus is on the rise in several regions of the country, forcing those regions to be on alert.

Jakarta alone recorded 613 cases of dengue fever as of Sunday, an increase of 183 within five days from the 430 reported as of Tuesday last week. No deaths have been reported.

Jakarta Health Agency head Widyastuti told the press on Monday that unlike in previous years when dengue fever cases were evenly distributed, the fever has only spiked in South Jakarta, East Jakarta and West Jakarta.

“[As of Sunday] there were 231 cases in South Jakarta, 169 in East Jakarta and 153 in West Jakarta. Meanwhile, a relatively fewer 37 were found in North Jakarta and 23 in Central Jakarta,” she said, adding that no cases have been reported in the Thousand Islands.

The agency declared the capital in a dengue fever extraordinary occurrence (KLB) alert period that is to last until March.

The administration of Depok in West Java, meanwhile, recorded a total of 314 dengue fever cases as of Jan. 25, a stark increase from the 75 cases recorded in the same period last year. However, the region has yet to declare a KLB.

The head of the Depok Health Agency, Novarita, said that out of its 64 subdistricts, nine had not reported dengue fever cases. Harjamukti, Beji, Cipayung, Mekarjaya and Pancoran Mas districts were reported to be areas prone to dengue fever.

“We have not issued the KLB status as there are nine subdistricts that have not reported such cases,” Novarita said, according to tempo.co.

The municipality of Bekasi in West Java has also seen an increase of dengue fever cases, with the Bekasi Health Agency’s head of disease control and prevention, Dezi Syukrawati, citing 75 cases as of Jan. 28, up from the 49 cases in the same period last year.

“We are on alert and observing the progression of the dengue virus in Bekasi,” she said on Monday, as reported on kompas.com.

Dezi suggested that private hospitals across the city should report the number of dengue fever patients, so that the agency could take immediate action in the most-affected areas.

Meanwhile, Bogor, West Java, has recorded 121 cases this month, almost three times the 42 cases recorded in January last year, according to Bogor Mayor Bima Arya Sugiarto. However, the Bogor administration has yet to declare an extraordinary occurrence (KLB) status despite the increase.

“We have seen more cases this year. However, we have yet to discuss them with the Bogor Health Agency,” Bima said on Tuesday, as reported by tempo.co.

A similar hike was experienced in Bogor regency, where the Health Agency recorded 150 cases this month, up from the 40 to 50 cases recorded in January last year. Cibinong and Cileungsi districts, densely populated areas in the regency, are said to be the most prone to dengue fever.

The South Tangerang Health Agency has recorded at least 90 dengue fever cases and one death this year as of Jan. 23. However, a South Tangerang-owned hospital has recorded 157 cases since October last year.

The South Tangerang Health Agency’s head of disease control and prevention, Tulus Muladiono, told kompas.com that the Setu and Serpong districts recorded the highest number of cases, with 46 and 26 respectively.

“We will decide whether we will have to declare a KLB status. The issuance depends on the existing data and regulations. So far the health agency is still monitoring developments,” South Tangerang Mayor Airin Rachmi Diany said, as reported by tribunnews.com. (ars)

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