Monkeypox Cases In Indonesia Increase, DPR Asks High-Risk Groups To Be Vaccinated

Illustration of vaccines. (Antaranews)

JAKARTA - Member of Commission IX of the House of Representatives Netty Prasetiyani Aher asked the government to expand vaccination coverage to those who are at high risk in line with the increase in cases of monkeypox or monkeypox to 10 cases in Indonesia as of October 24, 2023. "The discovery of 10 monkeypox patients in Jakarta must be followed up with a policy of expanding vaccinations to surrounding areas such as Banten and West Java, especially to those at high risk," Netty told reporters, Thursday, October 26.

For information, monkeypox disease has symptoms such as severe headaches, swelling of lymph nodes, muscle aches and the emergence of smallpox lesions in the form of lumps containing water or pus throughout the body.

The Deputy Chairperson of the FPKS DPR RI assessed that the Ministry of Health must make the area around Jakarta a priority for surveillance and vaccination so that the disease can be localized.

"These areas have a distance and access that is close to Jakarta. The mobility of the population between regions is also relatively high," said Netty.

Netty also asked the Ministry of Health to intensify socialization to those who are referred to as people who are at high risk of being exposed to monkeypox, such as those who have bisexual relationships. According to him, people must get education about this disease. As well as the dangers of having risky sexual relations and how to stay away from actions that can make them infected monkeypox.

"Most of these patients are people with same-sex sexual orientation and people with HIV/AIDS infection," he said.