Beware, Children Are More Susceptible To Monkeypox

JAKARTA - The Indonesian Pediatrician Association (IDAI) said that children are more susceptible to being exposed to the monkeypox virus. Therefore, parents need to be extra careful to protect them from infectious diseases, namely by preparing a safe environment.

"From the side of children, especially infants, monkeypox can be more susceptible to this," said the Chairperson of IDAI, Dr. Piprim Basarah Yanuarso, Sp.A(K) quoted from ANTARA, Thursday, August 4.

He reminded that until now there is no specific vaccine to prevent monkeypox. Therefore, parents must also teach their children to apply Clean and Healthy Behavior (PHBS) to prevent all kinds of infectious diseases.

"In general, PHBS is something that we must do together to prevent this disease," he said.

On the same occasion, the Head of the Monkeypox IDI Executive Board (PB) Task Force, Hanny Nilasari, appealed to the public to always apply PHBS to reduce the risk of transmitting infectious diseases such as monkeypox that began to hit the world.

"In general, PHBS is something that we must do together to prevent this disease (monkeypox)," she said.

In addition, he continued, the public was also advised to discipline health protocols such as wearing masks and maintaining hand hygiene.

In order to avoid being exposed to the monkeypox virus, he also appealed to the public to avoid direct contact with animals that transmit monkeypox, such as rodents, marsupials, non-human primates, whether dead or alive animals.

He added that if someone has a rash, accompanied by fever or clinical symptoms suspect monkeypox infection, immediately contact the local health service facility.

"The public is advised to voluntarily provide honest information if they experience monkeypox symptoms or have contact with monkeypox patients," she said.

He asked the public to remain vigilant considering the monkeypox virus is sweeping the world. Until July 29, 2022, there were 76 countries that reported the incidence of monkeypox worldwide with a total of 22.485 confirmed cases worldwide.

In ASEAN, there are three countries reporting cases of monkeypox until the end of July 2022, namely Singapore with 11 confirmed cases, Thailand with two confirmed cases, and the Philippines with one confirmed case.