Thirty-five Thousand Dengue Fever Cases Reported in Indonesia by May 2023, Majority in West Java

The Indonesian Ministry of Health (Kemenkes) recorded 35,694 cases of dengue fever (DBD) throughout Indonesia in the first 22 weeks of 2023, spanning January to May.

This was stated by Imran Pambudi, Director of Prevention and Control of Infectious Diseases at the Ministry of Health, in an online press conference titled "ASEAN Dengue Day Commemoration" on Monday, June 12, 2023.

During the January-May 2023 period, West Java had the highest number of DBD cases in Indonesia, with 6,398 cases. This was followed by Bali with 3,678 cases, Central Java with 3,068 cases, and East Java with 2,551 cases.

During the same period, Kemenkes also reported hundreds of DBD-related deaths.

"The total number of DBD deaths reached 270 cases by the 22nd week of 2023. The highest number of deaths occurred in the provinces of Central Java, West Java, East Java, West Nusa Tenggara, and East Kalimantan," said Imran Pambudi in the press conference.

He also stated that dengue fever cases have the potential to increase this year due to the El Niño weather phenomenon.

"High (DBD) cases will occur during El Niño, with (a) dry climate and increased (air) temperature. There is research showing that mosquitoes become more aggressive in hot temperatures. Their biting frequency increases 3-5 times when the temperature rises," said Imran.

"We need to be vigilant this year, as we are now entering the El Niño period," he continued.