Jakarta – Forty people across Central Java have died from dengue fever in the last three months, the Central Java Health Agency reported, making the mosquito-borne disease deadlier than COVID-19, which has claimed 27 lives in the province as of Thursday.
Central Java has recorded 2,155 cases of dengue fever to date in 35 regencies and cities, said agency head Yulianto Prabowo.
"The highest case is recorded in Cilacap regency with 216 infections and three deaths, followed by Semarang municipality with 154 cases and two deaths, as well as Jepara with 136 cases and one death," Yulianto said on Thursday as quoted as kompas.com.
He added that other regions had also reported a high number of cases, such as Banjarnegara regency with 62 cases and three fatalities, Banyumas regency (132 cases and three deaths) and Klaten (131 cases and three deaths).
"The dengue fever outbreak is a recurring problem in all parts of Central Java because the disease is endemic in this tropical country," Yulianto said.
He urged residents to remain alert and eradicate mosquitos in their environment, especially the Aedes aegypti, which is the main carrier of the disease.
"Assign a jumantik [mosquito larvae controller] in every residential area, office and school. Make sure no mosquito larvae are found in the area, as the environment plays a huge role in the growth of the mosquito population."
The country has been battling with a dengue fever outbreak since early this year, while it is also struggling to fight the COVID-19 outbreak. According to data from the Health Ministry, more than 41,000 people have been infected by dengue fever across the archipelago as of Tuesday, with more than 260 dead.
East Nusa Tenggara and North Maluku are among the hardest-hit regions by the disease. (nal)