Remain alert during holidays, transmission of dengue fever and flu in Singapore is still high

"The high movement of people during the homecoming journey has the potential to accelerate the spread, especially among infants and young children," he said in a press release received in Jakarta on Friday (12/4/2024).

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According to data from the Ministry of Health, the number of cases of HMFD has reached 6,500 cases until the 13th week of 2024. Most of the reported cases are found in children. The majority of cases were reported on the island of Java, particularly in West Java (2,119 cases), Banten (1,171 cases), Yogyakarta (561 cases), and Central Java (464 cases).

The spread of HMFD disease needs to be taken seriously as most cases are found in areas that are destinations for the annual exodus. The journey of "mudik" (returning to hometown) and long holidays have a high potential to increase cases of Singaporean flu in the community.

High human movement during homecoming trips has the potential to accelerate the spread, especially to babies and toddlers.

Preventive efforts can be carried out by maintaining personal and environmental health and cleanliness, as well as always washing hands with soap and running water. In addition, do not forget to continue implementing proper cough and sneeze etiquette and avoiding direct contact with infected persons.

Dengue fever

Syahril added that the public is also advised to remain alert to the transmission of dengue hemorrhagic fever. Prevention of dengue fever by eradicating mosquito nests should not stop during the Eid holiday. In fact, even when you are in your hometown you can still make efforts to eradicate mosquito nests properly.

Also read: Tips to keep your body healthy when returning home for Eid

Increased vigilance is also needed in areas with high cases of dengue fever transmission. As of the 14th week of 2024, there have been 60,296 reported cases of dengue fever with 455 deaths.

The problem of dengue fever is not new. The condition of five regencies/cities with high cases of dengue fever are Tangerang Regency (2,540 cases), Bandung City (1,741 cases), West Bandung Regency (1,422 cases), Lebak Regency (1,326 cases), and Depok City (1,252 cases). Meanwhile, the regions with the highest death toll are Bandung Regency (25 deaths), Jepara Regency (21 deaths), Subang Regency (18 deaths), Kendal Regency (16 deaths), and Bogor Regency (13 deaths).

The Chairman of the Indonesian Medical Association (PB IDI), Moh Adib Khumaidi, said that vigilance towards disease transmission must also be carried out during the Eid al-Fitr holiday season in 2024, which coincides with the occurrence of the transitional season. Significant weather changes from scorching heat to rain or vice versa can be dangerous to health, especially for children, the elderly, and pregnant women.

"Early awareness is an important part that the community must always undertake. People need to maintain their health by preparing and taking preventative measures before traveling, whether for vacation or for business or other work during this transition season," he said.

Several preparations need to be made in order to minimize the risk of disease transmission. These include maintaining cleanliness, ensuring adequate access to drinking water and sleep, being cautious in crowded areas, and regularly monitoring one's overall health condition.

Ensure to drink at least eight glasses of water and get enough sleep of 6-8 hours in a healthy condition. Sufficient hydration and rest are important to maintain a healthy immune system function.

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For those with chronic illnesses, such as diabetes, hypertension, and other conditions, it is important to regularly monitor their health. Basic tests to monitor blood sugar, cholesterol, and blood pressure levels need to be conducted to ensure that the body remains under control. Eating and rest patterns also need to be considered to avoid triggering a worsening of health conditions.

"We hope that the journeys that will be taken by the public, whether it is a long or short distance, can run smoothly and be free from unwanted incidents," said Adib.