The Health Ministry investigates Tomcat case

REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, JAKARTA – The Ministry of Health and local Health Department, involving epidemiology and entomology experts, investigated Tomcat (in Latin: Paederus fuscipes) attack in East Java since two days ago. “No victim suffering the case should stay in the hospital. Their condition is better in 3-4 days after therapy,” Director General of Disease Control and Environmental Health (P2PL) of the Ministry of Health, Professor Tjandra Yoga Aditama, said on Thursday.

The patient who suffered from first week now reported had recovered. The investigation finds the population of Paederus dp is low. There is only 10-20 in each location.

“As prevention, we suggest people to protect themselves by using over the counter insecticide,” Aditama said. At least, the insects die 30-60 minutes after they are directly sprayed with insecticide.

Tomcat has attacked three victims in Jember, East Java. Yet, the spokesman of Jember Health Department, Yumarlis, has not certain that those patients were caught by the Tomcat in Jember.

Their skin was blistered because of the poisonous liquid from Tomcat. “The blistered skin can be treated by antibiotic and ointment. It will be recovered in five or seven days,” Yumarlis said.

Tomcat is actually useful and has important role in the food chain. In fact, the insect helps the farmer because it was the predator of planthopper pests in rice field.

According to the data in Surabaya Agriculture and Forest Department, Tomcat has attacked 28 points. “The disease has spread in several regions since a week ago,” the Head of Surabaya Agriculture and Forest Department, Alex Siahaya, said.

Siahaya explained, Tomcat was first discovered in Pakuwon apartment three weeks ago. Now it is spreading in Gubeng, Kertajaya, Semolowaru, Kenjeran, Sukolilo, Rungkut, Dukuh Pakis, Banyu Urip, Mulyorejo, Sukomanunggal, and Gununganyar.