Singapore doctors reported an increase in skin and respiratory problems from high levels of air pollution caused by forest fires on the Indonesian island of Sumatra. The National Environment Agency, whose Pollutant Standard Index reached its highest level of the year on Thursday, advised people to avoid heavy outdoor physical activity. Depending on the wind direction, the haze could continue for several weeks until the end of the dry season in Sumatra. The fires result from illegal slash-and-burn forest clearing methods that officials say are used by small-holder farmers to make way for palm oil or rubber tree plantations.
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