Indonesia: Risk of dengue fever during rainy season

Event

Indonesia’s Health Ministry warned of an increased risk of contracting dengue fever throughout the country during the ongoing rainy season through April. According to health officials, dengue fever emergencies have been declared in North Sulawesi, East Nusa Tenggara (NTT), and Central Kalimantan as of late January. An increase in cases has also been reported in East Java, Central Java, West Java, East Kalimantan, South Kalimantan, NTT, Lampung, North Sumatra, South Sulawesi, and Banten. Officials have advised people to take precautions against mosquitoes and to eliminate mosquito breeding grounds.

Context

Dengue fever is a mosquito-borne disease found mostly in urban and semi-urban areas. Symptoms include fever, headache, muscle and joint pain, fatigue, nausea, and rash. Dengue Hemorrhagic Fever (DHF) is a potentially deadly complication that is characterized by high fever, enlargement of the liver, and hemorrhaging.

Advice

Individuals present in Indonesia are advised to take measures to protect themselves from mosquito bites (e.g. by wearing covering clothing, using insect repellent, and sleeping in a screened-in or air-conditioned room) and to eliminate possible mosquito breeding grounds on their properties (e.g. small pockets of fresh water, such as rainwater that has collected in cans, bottles, tires, flower pots, clogged gutters, etc.).