Surabaya - Dengue fever (DHF) cases have spiked again in Indonesia. This spike often occurs especially during the rainy season.
In fact, DHF has now become a case of Extraordinary Event. For information, an outbreak is a condition in which there is a drastic increase in certain epidemiological diseases in an area and within a certain time frame. This outbreak condition is usually also the beginning of an outbreak.
According to data from the Ministry of Health of the Republic of Indonesia, as of March 1, 2024, there were nearly 160,000 dengue cases in 213 districts and cities in Indonesia. The Ministry of Health predicts that this situation will continue until next April.
Looking at the current situation, Professor of Anthropology at Universitas Airlangga, Prof. Dr. Phil Toetik Koesbardiati, DFM, PA(k) gave her response. Prof. Toetik said that the DHF outbreak case occurred due to various factors. One of them is the geographical location of Indonesia which makes this country a tropical country. Another factor that also affects is natural changes, weather and climate that are beyond human control.
"During the rainy season, there are often many puddles that become breeding grounds for mosquito larvae, such as flower pots, gutters, old tires, cans, bottles, plastics, tree holes, fronds, and others. The existence of these puddles causes an increase in the population density of infectious mosquitoes," explained Prof. Toetik, Wednesday (3/4/2024).
Countermeasures
Furthermore, Prof. Toetik shared tips to overcome the occurrence of DHF in the neighborhood. The countermeasures include draining bathtubs and containers once a week. Prof. Toetik also reminded us to keep the house clean to be free from DHF.
"We must drain the bathtub and container, at least once a week. We should not stack or hang clothes too long. In addition, we can also use gauze or mosquito nets to avoid bites," said the lecturer at the Faculty of Social and Political Sciences Airlangga University. (MC Diskominfo Prov Jatim /hjr-mad/InfoPublik.id)