Red Alert in Pamekasan: 12 Lives Lost Due to Measles, 18 Villages in KLB Status

JAKARTA - The news of grief envelops the health world in East Java. The Health Office (Dinkes) of Pamekasan Regency reported a massive measles disease attack throughout 2025. It is recorded that as many as 1,248 people were exposed, with 12 of them dying.

Tragically, all the victims and the majority of positive patients are children under the age of five (toddlers), an age group that should receive strong basic immunization protection.

Bitter Fact: 78 Percent of Patients Have Not Been Vaccinated

The head of the Pamekasan Health Office, Saifudin, revealed that from thousands of suspect reports, 209 people were declared positive for measles through laboratory tests. All positive patients are in the age range of 1 to 4 years.

The Health Office's investigation revealed the crucial fact behind the high number of transmissions: Immunization negligence.

"Of the 209 people exposed, about 78 percent were not immunized, while the rest only received one measles immunization," said Saifudin, quoted by ANTARA.

Ideally, children should receive a complete measles immunization dose to form herd immunity. The low vaccination coverage in the region is the gateway for the measles virus to spread quickly and kill.

18 Villages with Extraordinary Events Status (KLB)

Seeing the high death and transmission trends, the Pamekasan Regency Government has declared a Measles Extraordinary Event (KLB) status in 18 villages. This status remains in effect until today, January 8, 2026, because the risk of transmission is still considered high.

The areas with the highest spread rates include:

Proppo District: 193 suspects.

Pamekasan District: 167 suspects.

Pademawu District: 131 suspects.

Villages that are included in the red list of KLB include Batukalangan, Bugih, Campor, to Polagan. In these areas, health surveillance is tightened to break the chain of transmission.

"Pick up the ball" mission to the residents' house

In response to this crisis, the Pamekasan Health Office did not stay silent at the health center. The medical team is now moving guerrilla with the "pick up the ball" strategy. Officers go directly to the homes of residents in 13 sub-districts to ensure that children who have missed immunization are immediately vaccinated.

"We continue to try to carry out immunizations by going directly to people's homes," added Saifudin. This step was taken because there are still access barriers or lack of awareness of some parents to bring their children to health facilities.

Measles is More Than Just a Common Rash

The case in Pamekasan is a stark reminder to parents that measles is not a mild skin disease. Complications of measles can attack the lungs (pneumonia), the brain (encephalitis), and cause severe dehydration due to diarrhea, which can ultimately lead to death.