Jakarta (31/01) — The Ministry of Health and Regional Governments need to immediately deal with Measles Extraordinary Events (KLB) that have spread in 31 provinces. This was conveyed by Member of Commission IX DPR RI PKS Fraction Dr Kurniasih Mufidayati responding to the status of measles outbreaks in several regions.
Kurniasih said that the 32-fold increase in cases compared to last year was a very loud alarm to immediately take preventive measures and treat measles.
Moreover, measles is an infectious disease through the respiratory medium and the transmission rate can reach 18 times.
“We ask the Ministry of Health and the Regional Government, including the Health Office, to take immediate action to cut off and reduce the status of this measles outbreak. Do not for the sake of measles-free publication, regional governments ignore cases that occur in their area. All parties must intervene to deal with this measles outbreak,” Kurniasih said in her statement, Tuesday (31/01).
This member of the Republic of Indonesia DPR for the DKI Jakarta II Dapil assessed that the existence of a pandemic with many restrictions over the past three years has ultimately reduced the level of measles immunization so that it has had an impact on herd immunity against measles which has decreased.
“Once again we have to pursue immunization achievements not only for measles but also for basic immunization which had stalled due to the pandemic. The point is there must be acceleration with all kinds of strategies,” he said.
Kurniasih said the transmission of infectious diseases other than Covid-19 had to be a serious concern because during a pandemic all components were focused on dealing with the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic.
“The focus must again be shifted to reducing all risks of communicable diseases in society. What’s more, specifically for measles, we have been declared a measles-free area so when it happens again and the status is an outbreak, we must be vigilant together. Likewise with other infectious diseases, we must be vigilant,” said Kurniasih.
