Indonesia haze cases reach 174,694, official says

Indonesia recorded 174,694 cases of acute respiratory infections between August and September 21 in areas affected by forest and land fires, health ministry official Then Suyanti said Tuesday.

Then said more than 40,000 of the recorded cases affected toddlers. The overall figure, reported across seven haze-hit provinces, was up from more than 113,000 cases reported as of September 9.

Fires in Borneo, Sumatra and Papua have covered parts of Indonesia, Malaysia and Singapore in haze. Then said the smog contains pollutants including PM 2.5, fine particulate matter that can carry health risks such as respiratory infections.

The health ministry has sent oxygen concentrators, face masks and oxygen canisters to affected regions, Then said. She advised people to reduce outdoor activity when air quality worsens, wear masks and stay hydrated.

Indonesian Cabinet Secretary Teddy Indra Wijaya previously said the government had deployed 64 aircraft and 54,000 personnel to Borneo and Sumatra for water bombing and ground operations. Officials have said peatland conditions, shrinking water sources and the size of affected territory are complicating the response.

Malaysia launched cloud seeding operations in three southern states on Monday to support water supplies and help clear haze, its meteorological office said. Kuala Lumpur recorded an Air Pollutant Index reading of 156, while Kuching recorded 157; Malaysian guidelines class readings above 100 as unhealthy.

Indonesia regularly battles wildfires during the July-to-October dry season. This year's fires are more intense during an El Nino climate pattern, and experts also blame climate change, forest degradation and slash-and-burn land-clearing practices.