WNA from RI Identified Measles, Ministry of Health Prepares Mitigation Plan

Health illustration (pixabay)

JAKARTA - The Ministry of Health received an official notification from the Australian health authorities regarding a case of measles with a travel history from Indonesia. The Ministry of Health will then coordinate with Australia and WHO Indonesia for response and mitigation in accordance with international standards.

The Head of the Ministry of Health's Public Communication and Information Bureau, Aji Muhawarman, said in Jakarta, Sunday, that the notification was through the International Health Regulations (IHR) mechanism. The information was conveyed through the Australian IHR National Focal Point and has been verified and followed up by the PHEOC of the Ministry of Health.

"Based on the information received, the case is a 18-year-old woman with a history of complete MMR vaccination in 2009 and 2012. The person concerned traveled using Batik Air Jakarta-Perth route on February 7-8, 2026," said Aji, quoting ANTARA, Sunday, February 22.

The symptoms of the rash appeared on February 8 in Perth and the PCR results were positive. Currently, there are 1 cases without deaths. The person concerned, he said, is an Australian foreign national who visited Bandung.

He said Australia was still investigating the case and had not provided more detailed information.

In addition, the Ministry of Health together with the West Java Provincial Health Office is conducting epidemiological investigations and strengthening surveillance according to national measles handling procedures. Until now, no additional cases have been reported. Surveillance is still tightened to detect possible additional suspect cases.

"It needs to be emphasized that measles is still found in various countries and is very contagious. Nationally, in 2025 there were 9,760 confirmed cases, and as of February 2026 there were 269 cases," he added.

Until now, he said, there has been no national declaration of measles. Monitoring is carried out through an active surveillance system.

His party appealed to the public to ensure that the measles immunization status is complete according to schedule, especially for international travelers.

"People who experience fever and rash symptoms are expected to immediately consult the nearest health facility, and for those infected with measles to limit contact with others to prevent transmission," he reminded.