REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, MEULABOH -- Hundreds of people have suffered from acute respiratory infections because of land and forest fires, which occurred over the past two weeks, the West Aceh district official stated here on Monday. 

The district's health agency chairman, Zafril Luthfi, stated in the capital city of Meulaboh that due to the thick smoke in six sub-districts, the number of infection had risen from 241 people, comprising of 124 children under five years and 117 children over five years in July 27, to 367 people on Sunday (July 30). 

"Haze was found in several hotspots, but due to regular rain, the smoke would soon be dispersed," Luthfi remarked in his office. 

Despite the increase in number, Luthfi noted that the district's health unit (Puskesmas) and the Cut Nyak Dhien Meulaboh Hospital found no difficulties in treating the patients. 

He further explained that following a warning status imposed by the West Aceh chairman H T Alaidinsyah, the health officials had prepared all the medications, as well as performed a preventive healthcare by distributing the masks. 

According to Luthfi, the health officials had also educated the people living in the affected areas about the dangers of haze and its further anticipations. 

However, the district's health bureau expressed its concern on other infection such as pneumonia, which may arise due to the haze. 

During the last two days, the National Mitigation Disaster Agency had dropped water bombs to stamp out the fires, although fires in several hotspots in the sub-districts of Johan Pahlawan, Suak Nie, and Lapang were raging.

" Late on Sunday, we had maintained coordination with all stakeholders. The disaster agency was also monitoring some hotspots today," he reiterated.

Earlier this month, the disaster agency declared that the wildfires had burned about 69 hectares land in the district.

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