DENGUE DEATH TOLL REACHES SEVEN IN NTT

Kupang, Feb. 13 (ANTARA) - The number of people who died of dengue fever, rose from five to seven in East Nusa Tenggara (NTT) Province, during January-February 13, 2010.

The latest two deaths this weekend were Maria Tiara (9 months old), and another infant at Kobatoma village, Titehena sub district, East Flores District, NTT, dr Stefanus Bria Seran, head of the NTT provincial health service, said here on Saturday.

The seven fatalities were all children, he said.

Dengue fever has affected eight districts in NTT, including East Flores, Sikka, Kupang, Belu, Ende, Alor, and Nagekeo districts.

In Sikka, there have been 251 cases of dengue fever, Kupang 279 cases, Belu 32 cases, Ende six cases, Alor eight cases, and Nagekeo six cases with two children had died.

Bria Seran feared that the number might increase as there have been 117 cases over the past ten days.

The East Nusa Tenggara authorities have declared the dengue fever outbreak in Kupang city and Sikka District as extraordinary happening.

In Ambon, Maluku Province, Julian Tamaela (5 years old) died of dengue fever at Sumber Hidup Hospital, Friday evening. It was the third deaths due to dengue fever in Ambon, this year.