Sumenep (ANTARA News) - Dengue has hit the regency of Sumenep in East Java leaving three people dead in the past several days .

So far this year, five people have been killed of 239 known carriers of the disease in the district, a local health official said.

"Since January up to November 20 this year, 239 people were known to be infected by the disease in 89 villages," head of the Sumenep health office Jetty Nurdyah Ningrum said here on Wednesday.

The attacks were more intense lately leaving three people dead in November alone, Jetty said.

She called on the local people to take the initiative to eradicate the breeding places of mosquito that spread the disease by keeping the environment clean.

"It is the most effective way to prevent the spread of the disease," she said.

She said the health service office already launched fogging in village known to have dengue victim .

Fogging, however, is not very effective as it would not kill the mosquito larva in their breeding place, she said.

"Awareness of the people to keep the environment clean would greatly help in the eradication of the mosquito and prevent the spread of the disease," she said. (*)

Editor: Heru Purwanto
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