"Of 696 patients with dengue fever during the first three months of this year, seven have died of the mosquito-borne viral infection," Mada G. Soebowo, the head of the Semarang health office`s disease control and prevention section, said here on Thursday.
According to him, report from some community health centers here said that nine people have died but in reality there were only seven fatalities.
Soebowo said there has been a massive uptick in the number of dengue fever cases in Semarang during the first three months of 2013 with 696 people were known to have been infected and seven others have died.
Compared to the same period from January to March 2012, the number of cases this year was much higher than that of last year which was recorded at 326.
"Dengue fever has now spread evenly to almost all areas in Semarang city with the number of fatalities was reported among others from the sub-districts of North Semarang, Banyumanik, Mijen, Tugu, and Pedurungan," Soebowo said.
Therefore, he called on the people to remain vigilant at all times by eradicating the breeding grounds of Aedes Aegypti mosquitoes which transmit the dengue fever.
Soebowo noted that the people should not rely on fogging because it was not the best possible solution to prevent the spread of the disease.
He said the people should also clean up the ideal mosquito egg-laying places which capture rainwater, such as old tires, pet bowls, and container for domestic water use.
Meanwhile, Semarang City Health Office Chief dr Widoyono admitted that weather factor was blamed for the increasing number of dengue cases.
Widoyono said there was as yet no vaccine to prevent against dengue fever and thus the people should prevent its transmission by avoiding being bitten by the disease-carrying mosquitoes.
(O001/F001)
Editor: Jafar M Sidik
Copyright © ANTARA 2013
