Indonesian Health Ministry Reminds Public of El Nino, Dengue Case Spike

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The Health Ministry's director general of disease prevention and control, Maxi Rein Rondonuwu, said that the El Nino phenomenon is affecting the way insects breed. The ministry seeks to anticipate an increase in the risk of dengue transmission as well as other diseases transmitted by vectors.

"Over the last 10 years, we have seen that El Nino not only influence dengue, but almost all types of tropical diseases have a very high correlation," he said at the launch of the dengue prevention campaign in Jakarta on Wednesday, September 27, 2023.

He said that the increase in temperature as well as changes in wind patterns, humidity levels and rainfall resulting from El Nino could affect the breeding of disease-transmitting mosquitoes. High temperatures can speed up the growth process of larvae into adult mosquitoes, from 13-15 days to just 6-7 days.

Maxi quoted research that showed that when the temperature is high, a mosquito can bite up to 5.5 times a day, more than twice the number of bites during normal weathers. He also said that when there is high rainfall, many mosquito breeding grounds appear.

"The BMKG predicts the peak of summer this year in October, followed by a rainy November. There is a possibility that related cases will rise and explode at the end of this year and early next year," he said.

He appealed to the public to be more aware of disease transmission risks and make efforts to eradicate mosquito nests to reduce them. He said vaccination is also needed to prevent the transmission of dengue.

ANTARA

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