6 Monkeypox Cases In Jakarta Proposed By Bisexual

Illustration. Monkeypox or monkeypox. (ANTARA-HO-Sutterstock)

JAKARTA - The Ministry of Health (Kemenkes) reported that as many as six cases of monkeypox or monkeypox in Jakarta were exposed to people with bisexual orientation and HIV (ODHIV).

"From the search results, it is known that six monkeypox patients are ODHIV and have bisexual orientation," said Director General of Disease Prevention and Control Maxi Rein Rondonuwu in Jakarta, Monday, October 23, quoted by Antara.

Maxi said the majority of confirmed monkeypox patients were men aged between 25-29 years, while the rest were men aged 30-39 years.

Based on the results of laboratory examinations as of October 13, 2023, said Maxi, the Ministry of Health detected a total of seven confirmed cases of monkeypox in Indonesia this year.

This number is outside one of the first cases found in Indonesia in mid-2022.

All confirmed cases were found in the DKI Jakarta area. In detail, one case was reported from Jatinegara, Mampang one case, Kebayoran Lama one case, Setiabudi two cases, Grogol Petamburan one case, and Kembangan one case.

Maxi said that currently all patients are undergoing intensive care in isolation rooms in a number of hospitals in Jakarta. Treatment will be carried out until the wound drys out perfectly.

"For conditions, everything is good and stable. We monitor closely and continuously. Currently, we are also monitoring parties who are in close contact with patients," he said.

Maxi said that monkeypox patients have sex behavior factors at risk with the emergence of red lesions and rashes, and followed by fever, enlargement of lymph nodes, sore sore throat, myalgia, rash, and difficulty swallowing.

Transmission occurs from human to human because of direct contact with body fluids or skin lesions of infected people, Maxi added.

Responding to the case, the Indonesian Ministry of Health made efforts to deal with monkeypox in the form of surveillance, therapeutic and vaccination.

According to Maxi, surveillance efforts were carried out by means of epidemiological investigations and preparation of examination laboratories.

Terapeutik is carried out by providing symptomatic therapy, fulfilling the logistics of antivirus specifically for Mpox and monitoring the patient's condition.

Furthermore, the Ministry of Health also vaccinates monkeypox, especially in the most risky population.

"The criteria for vaccine recipients are men who in the last two weeks have had sex with the same sex as or without ODHIV status," he said.

The Mpox vaccination is planned to be carried out starting October 24, 2023 with a target number of around 447 people at the Carlo Clinic and puskesmas located in South Jakarta, Central Jakarta, East Jakarta and West Jakarta.

Maxi said the MPX vaccine was administered in 2 doses with an injection interval of four weeks using imported vaccines produced by Bavarian Nordic, Denmark under the JYNNEOS trademark of single-dose packaging.

The vaccine already has a Vaccine Certificate of Release from BPOM issued March 17, 2023.

"Our Mpox vaccine stock is safe. Currently, 991 vials of the Mpox vaccine have been distributed to the DKI Jakarta Provincial Health Office to meet the needs of thempox vaccination program which will begin to be given this October," he said.