KORAN PR-Cases of diphtheria in the Garut Regency area are still experiencing additions and are now also starting to appear in other sub-districts. Meanwhile, the achievement of the outbreak response immunization (ORI) vaccine which was carried out in the Pangatikan District area had only reached 60 percent.
According to the Head of Disease Prevention and Control (P2P) of the Garut District Health Office, Asep Surachman, currently the number of positive diphtheria cases in Garut has increased to 13. Meanwhile the number of suspected diphtheria has reached 34 people and 3 of them are currently undergoing treatment in the isolation room at home. Regional General Hospital (RSUD) Dr. Slamet Garut.
“The number of people who are positive for diphtheria is currently 13 people while the number of suspects has reached 34 people. The positive ones have all recovered, while the suspects are still 3 people undergoing treatment in the isolation room of the Garut Hospital,” said Asep, Wednesday 15 March 2023.
In addition to the number of positive patients and suspected diphtheria, said Asep, the number of residents who died because of suspected diphtheria has also increased. Until Wednesday (15/3/2023) evening, the number of residents who died allegedly due to diphtheria in Garut reached 9 people.
The 9th resident who died was suspected of having diphtheria, he said, he was not a resident of Sukahurip Village, Pangatikan District, as before. This time the person who died was a resident of Cisurupan District.
Asep said, the number of diphtheria cases that occurred in the PangATIkan District area has currently decreased. This is the impact of the handling carried out by the Health Service by implementing ORI and administering drugs to residents.
However, he said, diphtheria cases also appeared in other sub-districts including Tarogong Kidul and Cisurupan. Previously in Tarogong Kidul there was a resident who tested positive for diphtheria and most recently, there was a resident of Cisurupan who died allegedly of diphtheria.
“Therefore, we apply early vigilance and early detection as an effort to prevent the continued spread of diphtheria. Every health post, clinic, and puskesmas must examine patients who complain of pain when swallowing by opening their mouths and examining their throats or we term screening,” he said.
