There were 91,000 Dengue Fever cases until early May 2024, with the highest number in West Java.

The Ministry of Health (Kemenkes) reported 91,269 cases of dengue fever (DBD) in Indonesia from the beginning of January to May 5, 2024. Of these cases, 641 resulted in death.

Health Minister Budi Gunadi Sadikin attributed the high number of DBD cases to climate change, but noted that Indonesia's case numbers remain lower than in other countries. "We (Indonesia) are relatively low compared to other countries, such as Brazil. DBD does have a cycle, influenced by climate. As soon as there's an El Niño, it definitely increases," Budi said in a working meeting with Commission IX of the Indonesian House of Representatives (DPR RI) on Tuesday, May 21, 2024.

During the January-May 5, 2024 period, West Java had the highest number of DBD cases nationally, reaching 23,454. East Java followed with 9,150 cases and Banten with 5,877 cases.

Meanwhile, Kemenkes reported no DBD cases in the provinces of Papua Pegunungan, South Papua, West Papua Daya, and West Papua.

Separately, Dr. Monica Cynthia stated that the dengue vaccine can be a preventive measure against DBD. Besides protecting against infection, Monica explained that the vaccine can prevent dengue-related hospitalizations by up to 95.4%. "Various studies show that the antibodies in the vaccine can weaken the dengue virus, thus preventing patients from serious complications arising from this disease," Monica said, as reported by Antara on Thursday, May 23, 2024.

She added that the dengue vaccine can be given to healthy individuals aged 6-45 years without vaccine allergies.