Public Urged Not to Panic, Minister of Health: Deaths from DHF are Relatively Low

The number of dengue fever cases is approximately 120,000 cases per year after malaria (400,000), HIV (500,000), and tuberculosis (1 million cases).

KOMPAS/BAHANA PATRIA GUPTA

Fogging or fumigation was carried out in the sports room of the Pembangunan Jaya 2 School, Sidoarjo, East Java, Saturday (16/3/2024). Fogging is carried out as a precaution amidst the increase in cases of dengue hemorrhagic fever.

JAKARTA, KOMPAS — As cases of dengue hemorrhagic fever or DBD are spreading again, the Minister of Health Budi Gunadi Sadikin appealed to the public not to panic. The death rate or fatality rate caused by dengue fever still tends to be low. DHF is an infectious disease that is ranked fourth in Indonesia.

The number of Dengue Fever cases in Indonesia is approximately 120,000 cases per year after malaria (400,000 cases), HIV (500,000 cases), and tuberculosis (1 million cases). "So if you get it, the mortality rate is very low because all hospitals already know what to do, just give intravenous fluids. The important thing is not to be late," said the Minister of Health at the Presidential Palace Complex in Jakarta, after breaking the fast with the President and members of the Indonesia Maju Cabinet, on Thursday (28/3/2024).

If there are symptoms of dengue fever, the Minister of Health encourages the community to perform rapid tests or bring the patient to a health center or hospital to ensure a dengue fever diagnosis. "For our friends, don't panic. Jakarta hospitals still have enough space because, as we've seen with Covid, there are numerous facilities available. So, don't worry," he said.

The public is also advised to pay attention to environmental conditions where the Aedes aegypti mosquito breeds. Trash cans should not contain standing water. The government has also prepared larvicide to kill mosquito larvae. "We prepare insecticides for fogging," he added.

To friends, in order to avoid panic, Jakarta hospitals still have sufficient capacity, because our experience with Covid showed that there are plenty of facilities. So, don't worry.

Currently, the method of controlling dengue fever usingWolbachiamosquitoes is also starting to roll out in five big cities, namely Bandung, Bontang, Kupang, Jakarta and Semarang. Wolbachia is a natural bacterium, a symbiont commonly found in arthropod animals. The mechanism is to inhibit the replication of the dengue virus which is played by Wolbachia.

Also read: The threat of dengue fever begins to emerge with the rainy season and pandemic

The Ministry of Health has also adopted Wolbachia technology by issuing Minister of Health Decree Number 1341 of 2022 concerning Implementation of the Wolbachia Technology Pilot Project in five cities. "We did that because, for example, in Yogyakarta it has dropped a lot. "Dengue is increasing in total in the world due to the influence of climate," said Budi.

Yogyakarta is the only city that has experienced a reduction in dengue fever numbers since the implementation of theWolbachia mosquito was launched. Responding to the rejection of the implementation of Wolbachia in a number of areas, Budi said that the people who refused were the group who also rejected the Covid-19 vaccine during the pandemic.

"Well, this is also our friends' support in educating the community. Because there are so many bad hoaxes circulating, this is what, but if you look at it, it is the same group that says vaccination should not be done for Covid-19," he said.

Now, friends also help educate the community. Because there are so many circulating hoaxes that are bad, what is this, but when looked at, it is the same group that says that the vaccine should not be done for Covid-19.

KOMPAS/MAWAR KUSUMA WULAN

Minister of Health Budi Gunadi Sadikin gave a press statement at the Presidential Palace Complex, Jakarta, Monday (2/1/2023), after attending a limited meeting regarding the acceleration of handling tengkes (stunting).

Limited service

He was poor, had no funds to use BPJS, had dengue fever. He went round and round until three or four hospitals were all full, in the end some got it and some didn't.

Previously, at a working meeting with the Minister of Health in the Commission IX meeting room, Nusantara I, Senayan, Jakarta, Monday (25/3/2024), member of Commission IX DPR, Edy Wuryanto, emphasized to the Ministry of Health that poor people must receive health services. He revealed that the disease dengue fever in DKI Jakarta was increasing, but health services were limited so that it was not uncommon for residents not to get health facilities.

Also read: Prevent the Spread of DHF with Fogging

According to him, patients with dengue fever must receive fast and accurate health services. Moreover, many patients with dengue fever are experiencing difficulties because hospitals are full.

"He was poor, had no funds to use BPJS, had dengue fever. He went round and round until three or four hospitals were all full, in the end some got it and some didn't. "My question is, what are the government's efforts to ensure that when there is an explosion of cases like this, poor people don't not get beds in hospitals, especially in Jakarta," said Edy.