In line with the aforementioned tropical climate, Indonesia’s natural environment, along with countries with similar climate, makes its people more vulnerable than others. As the rainy season approaches, the threat of dengue follows the massive downpour.

According to the Indonesian Health Ministry, cases of dengue hemorrhagic fever (DHF) in Indonesia have shown an increasing trend every November over the past decade. By week 40 of 2023, there were 68,996 cases of DHF, with an incidence rate of 25.10 per 100,000 population that resulted in 498 deaths, or a death rate of 0.72 percent. Dengue is caused by the virus transmitted through the bites of Aedes aegypti and Aedes albopictus mosquitoes.

The rise of cases in November is attributed to the significant increase of mosquito population that generally occurs during the rainy season, due to the humidity and stagnant water that is conducive to the breeding environment they seek. As mosquito reproduction intensifies, the risk of disease transmission, such as dengue fever, also rises.

Severe cases of dengue can lead to fatal complications such as plasma leakage, fluid accumulation, respiratory distress, severe bleeding, and organ failure, posing a life-threatening danger to people of all ages. Meanwhile, the virus could also cause additional symptoms such as gum, nose, or gastrointestinal bleeding – all require immediate medical attention.

When dengue fever progress into DHF; one of the main complications of DHF is internal bleeding of vital organs such as the stomach, intestines, or the brain. DHF can also cause shock, where the patient's blood pressure drops drastically, and leads to organ failure.

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Education and awareness of the life-threatening disease is essential as the first line of defense against dengue. As there is currently no specific treatment for dengue fever, prevention remains more important than ever. Awareness of the dangers of dengue and swift action in responding to symptoms is key to preventing the life-threatening complications.

Efforts to prevent dengue transmission have been carried out through various government program, including the education of 3M Plus and vaccination.  The 3M Plus, stands for menguras, menutup, memanfaatkan, consists of draining water sources, covering water sources, and recycling, along with additional methods, such as planting mosquito repellent plants or using anti-mosquito insectifuge.

Moreover, studies concluded that the dengue vaccine can help reduce the risk of dengue infection and hospitalization due to dengue infection. Dengue vaccination has been recommended by the Indonesian Pediatric Society and the Indonesian Society of Internal Medicine, therefore it can complete family protection against dengue. Please note that everyone should consult with their own doctor on more details on vaccination.

Everyone must familiarize themselves with the 3M Plus, vaccination, and Jumantik Movements (Jumantik refers to a larva monitor who inspects, monitors and eradicates mosquito larvae, especially Aedes aegypti and Aedes albopictus). It is expected that the community should consistently implement these preventative measures. Let's take steps to prevent DHF in our respective families with 3M Plus and vaccination. With collective cooperation and awareness, we can make dengue a thing of the past.

Visit the website cegahdbd.com and follow Instagram @cegahdbd.id for more information on dengue fever and prevention measures through 3M Plus and the Dengue vaccine. Together, we could achieve zero dengue death in Indonesia by 2030.

C-ANPROM/ID/QDE/0311 | Dec 2023

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