Residents Affected By Sumatra Floods Complain About Health Problems, Fever Becomes The Most Cases

Illustration of residents affected by the Sumatra floods affected by fever. (generated by AI)

JAKARTA - The Ministry of Health (Kemenkes) said that residents affected by flash floods and landslides in three provinces, namely Aceh, West Sumatra, and North Sumatra, began to experience various health problems.

West Sumatra Province recorded the highest number of fever complaints compared to two other provinces affected by floods and landslides in the Sumatra region. In the range of November 25, 2025, 376 fever reports were collected from five regions, namely Pasaman, West Pasaman, Agam, Pesisir Selatan, and Tanah Datar.

Other health problems that are often found include 201 cases of muscle aches, 120 cases of itching, 118 cases of digestive disorders, 116 cases of respiratory tract infection, 77 cases of high blood pressure, 62 cases of injuries, 46 cases of headaches, and diarrhea and asthma each totaling 40 cases.

In North Sumatra, similar tendencies also arise. South Tapanuli Regency recorded 277 reports of fever, accompanied by 151 cases of muscle aches, 150 itching skin disorders, 94 digestive complaints, 96 respiratory infections, 75 hypertension, 45 injuries, 23 headaches, 23 diarrhea, and 3 asthma in the period 25 November 2025 December 1, 2025.

On the other hand, Aceh shows a different pattern. Based on records in Pidie Jaya Regency (25' November 30, 2025), the most complaints were 35 cases of injuries, followed by 15 respiratory infections and 6 diarrhea.

Head of the Health Crisis Center of the Ministry of Health, Agus Jamaludin, assessed that the increase in cases of fever illustrates the condition of the environment and temporary housing which is still unstable after the disaster.

"Demam is the fastest complaint to increase after flooding, especially when the refugee camps are congested and access to clean water is limited. It is also caused by inadequate body protection during the evacuation," he said, quoted from the official website of the Ministry of Health.

He emphasized that the Ministry of Health had distributed additional medical personnel and logistical support to affected locations.

"We guarantee the availability of drugs and health human resources to deal with various health complaints experienced by the community. Our focus is to prevent transmission and reduce the risk of complications," he said.

In addition to the reported disease, the situation after the flood can also trigger an increase in cases of Dengue Hemorrhagic Fever (DHF) and Leptospirosis, considering that puddles of water left over from the flood can become a hotbed for the development of dengue-infectious mosquitoes.

Floods also have the potential to carry animal droppings, including mouse urine, to temporary residential areas, thereby increasing the potential for the spread of Leptospirosis.

With this situation, the affected areas need to increase their vigilance, not only to the disease that has emerged, but also to the possibility of other diseases after the flood.

Residents are advised to apply simple clean and healthy living behavior as a precautionary measure. Some of the recommended actions include:

1. Get used to washing hands with soap, maintaining body hygiene, and always wearing footwear to prevent injury and the risk of Leptospirosis.

2. Eat well cooked foods and use safe water.

3. Keep the evacuation area dry and free from inundation.

4. Dispose of garbage in its place, use emergency toilet facilities properly, and cover well.

5. Take 3M plus steps to reduce dengue risk.

6. Check yourself at the nearest health post or service facility if you feel symptoms such as diarrhea, respiratory infection, or itching.