Jakarta, CNN Indonesia –
Ministry of Health (Ministry of Health) RI claims to have detected it for a long time norovirus which is an Extraordinary Event (KLB) in China at this time, besides Covid-19.
“Norovirus is actually a virus that has existed for a long time in Indonesia, it is different from Covid-19. Covid-19 is a new type of virus, while Norovirus is an old virus and its symptoms are like diarrhea,” said the Director of the Directorate for Prevention and Control of Infectious Diseases. Directly (P2PML) Ministry of Health, Siti Nadia Tarmizi when contacted CNNIndonesia.com, Wednesday (21/10).
He explained that the characteristics of the virus generally enter the human body through contaminated water or food. Not infrequently, he said, ordinary people call it food poisoning.
“Norovirus is caused due to cleanliness, not boiled water, like that, so there is no need to worry too much because immunity can also decrease, which is important but still maintains cleanliness,” said Siti Nadia.
Previously, a study conducted by Juniastuti and colleagues, published in the Journal of Medical Virology in May, reported that 15.4 percent of 91 samples at hospitals in Jambi City contained norovirus.
According to Siti Nadia, the research reference conducted by Juniastuti et al. Was not the first finding of norovirus to occur in Indonesia. He explained that in 2009 research related to norovirus had been carried out in Surabaya with the object of research on children.
Then in 2010 a study was also conducted in West Nusa Tenggara (NTB) about the linkage of diarrhea with norovirus.
“During the Covid-19 pandemic, we did not report cases of an extraordinary increase in diarrhea, so it is not too significant,” said Siti Nadia.
He explained that there are at least three kinds of research results on the characteristics of this virus. First, people whose feces contain norovirus but do not cause diarrhea, or are known as virus carriers. Second, the group that indicates mild symptoms. And, those who feel severe symptoms.
Siti Nadia then explained that the focus of the Ministry of Health in responding to norovirus is to continue monitoring through the data collection system for diarrhea sufferers in Indonesia. He also appealed to the public not to panic when they hear about the norovirus case in China.
According to him, a clean lifestyle that is also used to prevent Covid-19 such as health protocols such as washing hands can be one of the best ways to anticipate the norovirus. Because some cases of diarrhea can have the potential to cause death.
“Diarrhea tends to be the case a lot of people are dehydrated. And, dehydration can cause death, especially children,” he explained.
Contacted separately, Indonesian Public Health Expert Hermawan Saputra said that in epidemiological control, the role of the Health Office (Dinkes) and the Ministry of Health is still needed in tackling this norovirus.
Because the characteristics of this virus are more inclined towards hygiene, he asked the health offices in each region to make anticipatory efforts.
“The health office must coordinate with places to eat or restaurants in the area to maintain hygiene. It must ensure proper storage methods to serve, so that things such as poisoning are immediately dealt with,” said Hermawan when contacted. CNNIndonesia.com, Wednesday (21/10).
Not only doing more massive examinations, Hermawan assessed that the Health Office must also be responsive in investigating the substance of the food. However, like Siti Nadia, Hermawan also appealed to the public not to panic or worry too much, although they still have to be vigilant.
“If there are symptoms of nausea and discomfort in the stomach, immediately check it. And it is in line with the Covid-19 health protocol campaign, even though the mode of transmission is different from Covid-19,” he concluded.
For information, currently in China, which has not yet finished the attack of the corona virus pandemic, is now shaken by a norovirus attack. Disease control authorities in China said more than 70 students at universities in northern China’s Shanxi Province had the norovirus on Wednesday (7/10).
The Shanxi University of Finance and Economics in Taiyuan, China said the student was showing symptoms of vomiting, diarrhea and fever due to the norovirus.
(khr / kid)
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