MojNews-At least ۲۵۴ people have died in Indonesia since the beginning of this year due to dengue fever , according to local daily on Wednesday.

The number of dengue cases in the country has reached ۳۹,۸۷۶, the Tempo daily quoted Siti Nadia Tarmizi, the director for vector-borne and zoonotic diseases in the Health Ministry, as saying.

Tarmizi said that the West Java province on the island and East Nusa Tenggara, the southernmost province of Indonesia, are the "red zone" for dengue fever.

In Indonesia, dengue fever claimed ۱,۵۹۸ lives in ۲۰۱۶, ۴۹۳ lives in ۲۰۱۷, and ۳۴۴ lives in ۲۰۱۸.

Mosquitoes carrying malaria and dengue appear more frequently in Indonesia especially in the rainy season between October and April, while scientists warn high temperatures and prolonged rains cause an increase in mosquitoes breeding.