Rising Cases of Hand, Foot, Mouth Disease (HFMD) in Indonesia: Alert for Singapore Flu During Eid Homecoming 2024

Liputan6.com, Jakarta Cases of Hand, Foot, Mouth Disease (HFMD) or Hand Foot Mouth Disease (PTKM), which ordinary people know as Singapore flu, at the beginning of this year became the focus in Indonesia.

Data from the Ministry of Health of the Republic of Indonesia recorded that there were 6,100 cases of HFMD from the beginning to the end of March 2024. Most of the cases occurred in children and very few in adults.

The most HFMD cases are on the island of Java. Looking at each province, the highest are West Java (2,100), Banten (1,100) followed by DI Yogyakarta (561).

If we look at previous years, data from the Indonesian Ministry of Health in 2019 recorded 11 thousand cases of HFMD. In 2020, there was a drastic decrease in HFMD cases by 5,200 because the COVID-19 pandemic situation reduced interactions in society.

Then, in 2021 there were 5,400 cases recorded. Then, in 2022 there will be 8,100 cases of HFMD. Followed by 2023, 11,000 cases of HFMD will be recorded.

Seeing a trend of increasing cases in the first three months of 2024, the Indonesian Ministry of Health reminded the public to be alert to the transmission of Singapore flu or HFMD.

“If in 3 months (January – March 2024) there are 6 thousand cases, it could become 24 thousand cases (in a year). So we see a trend of increasing cases,” said Head of the Communications and Public Services Bureau, Dr. Siti Nadia Tarmizi, M.Epid via telephone to Health Liputan6.com on Friday, April 5, 2024.

Potential for Cases to Increase During Eid Homecoming 2024

Due to the upward trend plus high mobilization during the Eid homecoming, Nadia asked the public to be more alert to the Singapore flu. Moreover, this disease has a high transmission rate even though it rarely causes serious illness.

“There is an increasing trend, plus homecoming, plus long holidays, there is a huge potential for an increase in Singapore flu cases,” said Nadia again.

A member of the Tropical Disease Infection Coordination Work Unit (UKK) of the Indonesian Pediatrician Association (IDAI), Professor Edi Hartoyo, also conveyed the same thing. The increase in a person’s risk of developing HFMD is higher for those going home using public transportation.

“If it’s about the potential to expand (transmission), yes, yes. “Especially if we use public transportation,” said Edi in an online media meeting with the Indonesian Pediatrician Association (IDAI), Tuesday (2/4/2024).

Infographics Beware of the Spread of Singapore Flu During the 2024 Eid Homecoming Season. (Liputan6.com/Abdillah)

2024-04-05 17:00:09
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