Jakarta (ANTARA) - The Indonesian Health Ministry has recorded 799 dengue deaths and 131,501 dengue cases as of the 23rd week of 2024. The number of cases exceeds the total case count in 2023, with 114,720 cases and 894 fatalities.
Head of the ministry's Communications and Public Services Bureau Siti Nadia Tarmizi said on Thursday that the ongoing uncertain climate, which alternates between rainy and hot, is contributing to the high rate of dengue infections.
She said that the most deaths have been recorded in Bandung District (32), Klaten District (29), Subang District (22), and Jepara District (21). They have been followed by Kendal District (20), Bekasi City (19), Grobogan District (18), Bogor District (17), Bandung City (15), and Probolinggo District (14).
The 10 districts and cities with the most cases include Bandung City (4,446), Tangerang District (3,105), Depok City (2,690), West Jakarta (2,536), East Jakarta (2,329), and Malang District (2,255).
They further include Bogor City (2,254), West Bandung District (2,229), Banyuwangi District (2,196), and Gianyar District (2,004). To reduce the incidence of dengue, Tarmizi urged the public to pursue efforts to eradicate mosquito nests.
The ministry's Director for Infectious Disease Prevention and Control Imran Pambudi earlier said that 777 people died of dengue as of the 22nd week of 2023. During the "Asean Dengue Day 2024" media briefing on June 14, he highlighted that monitoring infected people is key to tackling the issue.
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The government's commitment, collaboration, and innovations are vital for the effort, he said. The involvement of regional governments is also important, as they hold control over their area, he added.
He cited the example of Kupang City, which has succeeded in reducing cases since 2022. The mayor of the city urges all civil servants to eradicate mosquito nests on Fridays.
Indonesia records 799 dengue deaths as of week 23, cases top 2023
File - A health worker prepares medicine for a dengue fever patient at Tamansari Regional Hospital in Jakarta on April 18, 2024. (ANTARA FOTO/Sulthony Hasanuddin/Spt)