Pramono: There are no measles cases in Jakarta, vaccination is still needed

JAKARTA - DKI Jakarta Governor Pramono Anung stated that so far no cases of measles have been found in the capital city. Even so, the government still considers vaccination to be an important step in prevention.

According to Pramono, a number of areas around Jakarta have started to report measles cases. This condition makes the local government increase vigilance so that the spread of the disease does not enter Jakarta.

"Until today in DKI Jakarta there has been no measles. That around DKI Jakarta has started to have measles, yes," said Pramono in South Jakarta, Thursday, March 12.

He explained that the government still considers vaccination as an important step to maintain community protection from the potential spread of infectious diseases.

Pramono also conveyed that based on the explanation of the DKI Jakarta Health Office, there were similarities in the vaccine approach between measles and COVID-19, especially in efforts to build public health protection.

"Of course, because in the past for DKI Jakarta the vaccine was very necessary, yesterday the Head of the Health Office said that between measles and COVID the vaccine had similarities," he said.

He hopes that the spread of measles will not enter the Jakarta area. "Hopefully it won't go to Jakarta," he added.

Previously, the DKI Jakarta Health Office (Dinkes) confirmed that until now no confirmed measles cases have been found in the capital city. Even so, monitoring continues through a surveillance system at a number of health facilities.

Head of the DKI Jakarta Health Office Ani Ruspitawati said that the monitoring was carried out to detect early the possibility of measles cases in Jakarta.

"Currently in Jakarta, no one has been found to be positive. So we are monitoring by conducting surveillance," Ani told reporters, Wednesday, March 11.

Ani explained that several health facilities in Jakarta became the location for monitoring cases of diseases with respiratory tract infection symptoms. This system is also used to identify potential measles cases.

"There are several locations of health centers that are locations for surveillance for ILI (Influenza Like Illness) and SARI (Severe Acute Respiratory Infection)," said Ani.

He explained that patients who show symptoms of measles will undergo further examination through laboratory tests to confirm the diagnosis.

"Later we will find those who have symptoms, we will check at the laboratory. But so far for the domicile in Jakarta there is none, but the areas around Jakarta have already started to exist," said Ani.

Although no positive cases have been found in Jakarta, Ani reminded that this condition still needs to be a common concern. Especially before Lebaran, when community mobility and interaction usually increase. According to him, the group most vulnerable to measles is children.

"So this remains our vigilance, especially before the Lebaran holiday when there is usually a lot of interaction between one another, and the most vulnerable group is children," said Ani.

Ani also reminded the public to be more careful when interacting with infants and toddlers whose immune systems are still vulnerable.

"So we have to take care of babies and children properly. One of the messages is not to like holding or kissing children, especially those who are still babies and toddlers, because their immune systems are still very vulnerable," he said.

The case of an extraordinary incident (KLB) of measles is once again a concern in Indonesia. The surge in the number of cases in recent times has made health workers remind of the importance of accelerating immunization to protect children from this highly contagious disease.