Dengue fever prevalent among Bali health cases

DENPASAR: The cases of dengue fever and other animal-transmitted diseases dominated cases treated at Sanglah General Hospital in Denpasar, Bali.

Until the middle of June, the hospital treated 395 cases of dengue hemorrhagic fever (DHF) and 140 cases of classic dengue (DF) as compared to 479 cases of DHF and DF combined throughout 2009.

“We are experience a serious dengue fever outbreak this year,” explained Dr. Dharma Kerti, head of the hospital’s medical records department.

The prevalence of DHF and DF cases in Bali is 170 per 100,000 people, much higher that the national rate of only 55 cases per 100,000.

Dr. I Nyoman Sutedja, head of Bali Health office, insisted local medical agencies replace their communication methods for dengue prevention and eradication campaigns, especially when conducted in rural areas.

“Most villages in Bali are endemic to the disease,” he saidIn addition to dengue fever, Bali has been hit by a rabies outbreak that has killed at least 50 people. — JP