One Positive Monkey Pox, DKI Residents Asked To Calm, Don't Panic

JAKARTA – The emergence of a case of monkeypox (Monkeypox) in Jakarta has attracted the attention of many parties. The DKI Jakarta Health Office appealed to the public to remain calm and not panic because of the findings.

"The public is advised not to panic, but to remain vigilant. Efforts to prevent the transmission of monkeypox can be done by implementing PHBS (clean and healthy lifestyle)," said Head of the DKI Jakarta Health Service Widyastuti, quoting Antara, Monday, August 22.

He detailed PHBS such as: - Frequently washing hands with running water and soap; - Not sharing towels or personal equipment; - Avoid contact with anyone who has symptoms, including not having sexual relations with multiple partners; - For sufferers, You need to self-isolate properly to avoid transmitting it to others.

Widyastuti also explained that the symptoms of monkeypox generally begin with fever, headache and swollen lymph nodes found in the neck, armpit or groin (groin).

In addition, these common symptoms can be accompanied by complaints of muscle aches, backaches, and prolonged fatigue.

After one to three days since the fever, symptoms will be followed by the appearance of a rash on the skin in several parts of the body, in the form of red spots like smallpox, small blisters filled with clear fluid or filled with pus which then become scabs and fall off.

"The number of lesions (wounds or bubbles filled with fluid on the skin) can be few or several scattered pieces," he said.

Monkeypox, apart from being transmitted through direct contact from sick animals to humans, can also be transmitted between humans and through objects contaminated with viruses.

"Nevertheless, transmission of monkeypox between humans is not easy," he said.

For transmission from human to human, he continued, it can be through close contact with droplets, body fluids or direct skin-to-skin contact with rashes, including through sexual contact.

Transmission can also occur through indirect contact with contaminated objects, such as clothes, bedding, towels or unwashed utensils/plates.

Previously, on August 20, 2022, the Ministry of Health (Kemenkes) announced the findings of the first confirmed case of monkeypox in Indonesia in a 27-year-old male patient.

It is known that the patient experienced health complaints a few days after returning to Indonesia, after a tour to several countries in Western Europe, on August 8, 2022.

The DKI Jakarta Health Service explained that the results of the tracking showed that there were three people who were close contacts in the first confirmed case of monkeypox.

The three of them are in good health condition and have no health complaints, but he said his party was committed to continuing to trace close contacts of the disease.

"Before this first case, we had received reports and carried out epidemiological investigations on 11 suspected people who were found since May 20, 2022, all of which after going through laboratory examinations were found to be negative for monkeypox," he said.

Widyastuti also said that his party would continue to monitor the progress of the patient's condition and all of his close contacts.

"The patient is quite cooperative and open with our team. The patient's condition has also improved," he said.