UN health agency helps Indonesia combat dengue fever outbreak

The United Nations World Health Organization (WHO) is working closely with the Indonesian authorities to fight an outbreak of dengue fever that has sent nearly 24,000 suspected cases to hospital in the past two months.

Dengue, the most common mosquito-borne viral disease of humans, has in recent years become a major international public health concern. It is found in tropical and sub-tropical regions around the world, predominantly in urban and semi-urban areas. Globally 2.5 billion people live in areas where dengue viruses can be transmitted.

Over 350 of the Indonesia cases were fatal, and the country’s health authorities are conducting intensive vector control activities including larviciding, space spraying and sensitizing the community on how to protect themselves and prevent the mosquitoes from breeding in and around their homes, the Geneva-based WHO said today.

The majority of cases are from the provinces in Java, South Kalimantan, South Sulawesi, Bali, East and West Nusa Tenggara and Aceh. Den-3 is the most common serotype circulating, although all four serotypes are present, the agency reported.

Local health authorities are carrying out tests to determine the specific virus strain responsible for this outbreak while the Government is providing free hospital treatment to those dengue patients who cannot afford it.