Bali Increases Super Flu Awareness to Puskesmas Level

Head of P2P at the Bali Health Office I Gusti Ayu Raka Susanti (ANTARA/Ni Putu Putri Muliantari)

DENPASAR - The province of Bali has increased vigilance against cases of Super Flu or influenza A (H3N2) subclade K to the lowest level, namely the health center.

"In Bali, for the time being, we are still safe, but of course our vigilance remains for Super Flu and we have lined up with districts/cities for vigilance down to the level of health centers," said Head of the Prevention and Control of Disease (P2P) Dinkes Bali I Gusti Ayu Raka Susanti, Friday, January 9.

Raka Susanti said that although no cases of Super Flu transmission have been found so far, the Bali Health Office continues to monitor through the early response vigilance system (SKDR).

When the SKDR reports an increase in influenza cases in health facilities, the health service will anticipate by verifying, investigating the epidemiology, and going to their respective work areas, if it is suspected that a lab test can be performed.

However, Raka Susanti reminded that not all cases of influenza are Super Flu, it could be a common flu due to seasonal changes and high community mobility.

Bali itself, he said, is a region prone to the transmission of Super Flu because of the tourism areas that are visited by many people from various regions.

However, it is not certain which routes are prone, because this type A influenza spreads so quickly through airborne droplets that it is not impossible to occur in even remote districts.

"As a preventive measure, we are working with the Health Quarantine Agency (BBKK) at the entrance which will check the temperature because one of the symptoms is an increase in temperature," said Raka Susanti.

To the public, the Bali Health Office asked that they implement clean and healthy living behaviors (PHBS) such as getting enough rest, consuming nutritious food, and if they feel sick or have flu or cough complaints, they should use masks so that they do not have the potential to transmit to others.

People who travel far are also asked to maintain their health and use masks and wash their hands regularly.

"Then if you have symptoms and do not recover with the usual medications consumed at home, go to the health facility so that you can get treatment quickly," he said.

In this phase of increasing vigilance, the Head of P2P ensured that Bali was ready in terms of health facilities in combating the Super Flu because there was a lot of experience and equipment after COVID-19.

"Hospitals in the province of Bali are very ready, we have 120 health centers, then the RSUD is already in all districts/cities, private hospitals are also easily accessible in Bali, compared to other provinces that are islands," said Raka Susanti.