The Indonesian Ministry of Health (Kemenkes) reported an increase in measles cases. This increase occurred until December 2022 and spread across 31 provinces in Indonesia. There was a 32-fold increase in cases, far higher than in 2021, which was ‘only’ 132.
“There are more than 3,000 existing (measles) cases, 3,341 to be precise. This has been confirmed by the lab which has spread to 223 regencies/cities in 31 provinces,” said Director of Immunization Management at the Indonesian Ministry of Health Prima Yosephine at the ‘Press Conference: Update on Measles Developments. in Indonesia’ which was broadcast from the Jakarta Ministry of Health Building on Friday, January 20, 2023.
Prima said the surge in cases was due to the Ministry of Health’s limitations in achieving the target of routine immunization services in 2020 and 2021. As is well known, that was when COVID-19 first hit, so many parents were afraid to take their children out of the house.
As a result, immunization coverage was low that year, which made measles cases spread faster.
