Caution Over Filariasis Outbreak In Pekalongan City Of Java

By Azeman Ariffin JAKARTA, Jan 23 (Bernama) -- Indonesian health authorities have cautioned visitors to the Central Java city of Pekalongan to take precautionary measures against filariasis. Local media quoted a health official, Tuti Widayanti, as saying that the disease had infected 409 people in the city and was prevalent in 12 villages in the Pekalongan Regency. Tuti, who is head of disease prevention and health of the Pekalongan Health Department, said 37 of the 409 cases were chronic with swelling on the body. Tuti advised the local people to seek immediate treatment if they suspected infection. She said many people were reluctant to seek treatment because they allegedly feared that the medicine had serious side effects. She said a study showed that more than 60 per cent of patients refused to take medication although they were confirmed to have filariasis. "There is low awareness on the need to take medication. This is caused by the people's fear of medicinal side effects, when in reality there are none," she explained. Tuti said preventive measures were underway, and added that the district administration would also launch filariasis awareness campaigns and distribute medicine to the public. The Filariodidea parasites that cause the disease are transmitted through the bite of the Mansonia mosquito, and the patients will have significant swelling of the feet and legs. The City of Pekalongan, located 380km east of Jakarta, is famous for its unique batik designs and received recognition from UNESCO in December 2014 as the 'World's City of Batik'. -- BERNAMA