MATARAM, KOMPAS.com – Head of Health Office of Mataram City, West Nusa Tenggara (NTB) Usman Hadi asked residents to be aware of chikungunya disease which is caused by the bite of the Aedes Albopictus mosquito.
This warning was made after the NTB Health Office released that the number of suspected chikungunya cases in the province had reached 396 so far this January.
“Although cases of chikungunya disease have not been found in Mataram, we must be vigilant,” said Usman in Mataram, Tuesday (7/2/2023), quoted from Antara.
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According to the NTB Health Office, throughout 2022 the number of suspected chikungunya cases detected was 1,675 cases.
Usman said the symptoms of chikungunya were similar to those of dengue hemorrhagic fever (DHF), namely fever, dizziness, joint pain, and decreased platelets. However, the decrease in platelets is not as low as DHF.
In this regard, he continued, to prevent chikungunya and dengue fever, the public is urged to be vigilant and concerned about environmental hygiene by intensifying the Mosquito Nest Eradication (PSN) movement.
“Both chikungunya and DHF have the same prevention, namely environmental hygiene,” said Usman Hadi.
Alluding to the last DHF case in Mataram City, Usman said there were 7 cases of DHF cases in Mataram on Saturday (4/2/2023) or the fifth week of 2023. This number decreased compared to the previous week with 12 cases.
“The total number of dengue cases for five weeks in 2023 was recorded at 52 cases and two cases are still being hospitalized,” he said.
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Usman added that his party hopes that DHF cases can continue to decrease along with increasing public awareness of environmental cleanliness.
Moreover, if there is an erratic change in weather, there could be potential for the emergence of mosquito larvae that cause DHF and chikungunya.
“If it rains continuously it is better because the mosquito larvae will be carried away,” said Usman Hadi.
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