Learning From COVID-19 To Beware Of Intruders From China, Mycoplasma Pneumonia

JAKARTA China has again attracted the world's attention after the phenomenon of a spike in pneumonia cases that occurred in its society, especially children. After just passing the COVID-19 pandemic, the world, including the people of Indonesia, is again worried that this period will repeat itself.

The spike in pneumonia cases in China was caused by bacterialmycoplasma. As a form of government preparedness in anticipating the transmission of Mycoplasma pneumoniaedi Indonesia, the Ministry of Health has issued Circular Number: PM.03.01/C/4632/2023 concerning Vigilance of Mycopaplasma Pneumonia in Indonesia.

"The issuance of the circular aims to anticipate the spread of pneumonia in Indonesia," said Director General of Disease Prevention and Control of the Indonesian Ministry of Health Maxi Rein Rondonuwu.

China first reported an increase in disease cases such as influenza compared to the last three years, in October 2023. A month later, China's Health Commission reported an increase in incidents of respiratory diseases, especially in children which were later referred to as undiagnostic pneumonia' in children in North China. They even had to close schools to prevent the spread of disease.

The report from China identified several bacteria and viruses that cause pneumonia in the child, namely Mycoplasma pneumoniae, influenza, respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), and SARS COV-2.

Launching an epidemiological report, there is currently an increase in pneumonia cases due to China's Mycoplasma pneumoniaedi by 40 percent and others in the form of influenza, SARS COV-2 and so on.

Mycoplasma pneumoniae kemudian menjadi perhatian publik karena situasitasnya sangat mirip dengan peristiwa pandemi COVID-19. Beritaan terkait Mycoplasma pneumoniae di Indonesia pun cukup masif dalam beberapa pekan ke belakang.

Recently, the Head of the Epidemiological Surveillance and Immunization Section of the DKI Jakarta Health Office, Ngabila Salama, said that several children had been infected with the Mycoplasma bacteria based on the results of the PCR test.

Meski begitu, belum banyak orang tahu apa sebenarnya Mycoplasma?

Mycoplasma is a very small bacteria, and has a short genome, only about 0.58 to 2.20 Mb.

Member of the Study on Infectious Diseases of PB IDI Prof. Dr. dr. Erlina Burhan, SpP(K), said Mycoplasma was one of the causes of respiratory tract infections before the COVID-19 pandemic. The disease caused by this bacteria was later called Mycoplasmapneumoniae.

Mycoplasmapneumoniae can also be transmitted with a droplet via air (airborne).

However, Prof. Erlina said that there were not many pneumonia cases in Indonesia caused by Mycoplasma.

"Mycoplasma pneumonia is known, rarely discussed, because the incidence is not too much pneumonia caused by Mycoplasna," said Prof. Erlina in the webinar of the Indonesian Doctors Association regarding Mycoplasma pneumonia on Friday (1/12/2023).

Meanwhile, the menutipCDC, Mycoplasma pneumoniae is a bacteria that usually cause mild infection in the respiratory system.

The surge in cases of Mycoplasma pneumonia that has occurred in China recently has made people worried, including in Indonesia. Especially after the DKI Jakarta Health Office found the Mycoplasma bacteria found in several cases.

Like other respiratory tract diseases, the Mycoplasma bacteria also cause disease by damaging the respiratory system layer starting from the throat, lungs, or throat stems.

In addition, Mycoplasma pneumoniae transmission can also occur through direct contact with droplets originating from the nose or throat of infected people when coughing or sneezing.

According to Prof. Erlina, pneumonia due to mycoplasma has actually been in Indonesia for a long time. However, it happened so rarely so there was no need for special attention.

Globally, the incidence of Mycoplasma pneumonia infection in the world was 8.6 percent before the pandemic, namely in 2017-2020. But this incidence actually decreased quite drastically to 1.69 percent and 0.7 percent in 2021 and 2022 in a row.

"Mycoplasma pneumoniae incidents decreased during the pandemic in line with the increasing health protocols during the pandemic era," said Erlina.

For this reason, Erlina appealed to the public to re-implement health protocols, as was done during the COVID-19 pandemic to prevent transmission.

"Let's learn from the COVID-19 pandemic, by implementing health protocols, namely diligently washing hands, maintaining distance, and wearing masks," said Erlina.

"For sick people should not work in the office, children should also not go to school, because it is very easy to infect their friends," he added.

Despite having symptoms such as COVID-19, Erlina emphasized that pneumonia caused by Mycoplasma bacteria is almost certainly not related to the corona virus which had become a world nightmare three years ago.

"We have learned from COVID-19, so we are used to it. So we don't need to panic, just be vigilant," said Erlina again.