Measles Cases Increase Amid Low Immunization Coverage

JAKARTA - Measles disease has recently become a widespread discussion recently after the Australian health authorities case stated that two of their citizens were exposed to measles while traveling to Indonesia.

The government received a notification from Australia regarding two cases of Foreign Nationals (WNA) with a travel history from Indonesia in February 2026, Antara reported.

The first case involves a 18-year-old woman with a complete vaccination history who took the Jakarta-Perth route in early February. The second, he said, involves a six-year-old girl without a history of immunization who traveled from Jakarta to Sydney in mid-February.

"Both were confirmed positive through PCR examination after showing symptoms of fever and rash," said Acting Director General of Disease Control (P2) of the Ministry of Health (Kemenkes) Andi Saguni.

The Indonesian Pediatric Association (IDAI) said that during the first five weeks in 2026, as many as 379 cases of confirmed measles were confirmed. The high incidence of measles according to IDAI is partly due to the prevalence of hoaxes about vaccines circulating among the public.

After the case of two foreign nationals who were exposed to measles, influencer Ruce Nuenca was widely discussed after going to public places even though he was sick with measles.

In his Instagram Story upload, Ruce Nuenca showed himself exercising outside the house. He also showed a photo of a reddish rash that appeared on his hands and feet.

After going viral, Ruce gave a clarification containing an apology and admitted that he did not know the dangers of measles and its transmission.

Reflecting on the incident, it cannot be denied that there are still many people who consider measles a harmless disease. The Chairman of IDAI West Java Prof. Dr. Anggraini Alam, Sp.A, Subsp.IPT (K) reminded that measles is not a mild disease, it can even cause serious complications.

"Measles is not a mild disease. Complications can be severe and the body's resistance can be very low, opening the door to the occurrence of other diseases," said Anggraini in an online media seminar.

He also explained that there are three stages to be aware of, starting with high fever accompanied by the typical symptoms of 3C: Coryza (cold), conjunctivitis (red eyes), and cough (cough) which lasts for 3-5 days before the rash appears.

Measles, continued Anggraini, can cause complications because it attacks various organs of the body, one of which is lung infection or pneumonia. Even when you get pneumonia, about 77 percent of children who go to the hospital because of measles have an infection in the lungs.

Measles can also cause ear disorders such as the discharge of fluid and even risk triggering damage that causes permanent deafness.

In addition, measles sufferers also experience diarrhea which can lead to severe dehydration so that the risk of death increases. The measles virus also reduces the level of vitamin A in the body so that the eyes become dry and prone to disorders.

Measles increases the risk of immunological amnesia, where the immune system, especially in children, loses the memory of having fought against various diseases previously. Thus, children are vulnerable to getting sick.

"Once the measles virus enters, it is attacked by various immune systems to dampen the virus. Various potential immunities that play a role are also exhausted and their functions are reduced. Finally, the body's ability to train it to face the disease is reduced," he added.

Measles disease has been in the spotlight lately, due to the high number of cases in early 2026. During the first five weeks, 379 measles were confirmed, with suspected cases reaching 5,329.

Meanwhile, in 2025, as many as 11,094 cases of measles were confirmed with a total of more than 63,769 suspects. Throughout last year, nearly 50,000 specimens entered the laboratory with a rate of positivity reaching 24.6 percent.

Meanwhile, the Ministry of Health data shows that the number of measles suspects in 2025 was recorded at 63,769 suspects with 67 deaths. Meanwhile, the number of measles suspects in 2026 was 8,810 suspects with five deaths.

The same data shows that about 67 percent of confirmed measles cases have no history of immunization.

The Chairman of the IDAI Central Board, DR Dr Piprim Basarah Yanuarso, Sp.A highlighted that low immunization coverage is still a trigger for increasing measles cases, including in Indonesia. In fact, measles is a disease that can be prevented by immunization (PD3I).

"The problem with the measles problem is actually in the immunization coverage. So this disease is included in the PD3I disease, a disease that can be prevented by immunization," said Piprim.

The immunization program, said Piprim, is provided free of charge. However, in its implementation it still faces obstacles, such as limited access to services, cold chain disruptions which cause vaccines to be damaged.

Another obstacle that is still being faced is that there is still a rejection from the public against vaccines because of the circulation of false information. When the immunization coverage has not reached herd immunity or group immunity, measles cases begin to emerge.

"Because it is very contagious, the coverage must be high to form herd immunity. So if the coverage drops to say 60 percent, it has emerged as an Extraordinary Event (KLB) everywhere," he said.

In 2025, measles outbreaks were reported in 87 regencies/cities. Meanwhile, at the beginning of 2026, there were outbreaks in 24 regencies/cities.

There are 10 regencies/cities that have experienced measles outbreaks for two consecutive years, namely Medan City, Deli Serdang Regency, Padang City, Garut Regency, Sleman Regency, Jember Regency, Pamekasan Regency, Tangerang Regency, Tojo Una-Una Regency, and Makassar City.