North Kalimantan Anticipates Cases Of Acute Hepatitis Symptoms Of Yellow Skin And Sclera

Illustration of acute hepatitis with yellow sclera symptoms. (Pixabay)

KALTARA - The Governor of North Kalimantan (Kaltara), Zainal Arifin Paliwang instructed the local health office to respond quickly to the entry of acute hepatitis of unknown etiology.

"We also need to monitor the readiness of existing health facilities in Kaltara," said Zainal in Tanjung Selor, Bulungan, quoted from Antara, Tuesday, June 7.

As well as issuing an appeal letter to the Regency/City Offices throughout Central Kalimantan, government and private hospitals (RS), and Regional Health Laboratories.

This must be done following the issuance of Circular Letter (SE) Number HK.02.02/C/2515/2022 of the Indonesian Ministry of Health (Kemenkes), concerning Precautions for the Discovery of Acute Hepatitis Cases of Unknown Etiology on 27 April 2022.

The governor requested that the response not only be in the form of an appeal. However, it also monitors the readiness of health facilities and laboratories for handling hepatitis in Kaltara.

Zainal asked in the letter of appeal to increase monitoring and response to alerts for cases of Acute Hepatitis with symptoms of yellow skin and sclera.

Including dark urine, which appears suddenly with diarrhea, nausea, vomiting and abdominal pain or joint pain, especially in children under 16 years of age.

Head of the Kaltara Health Office through the Head of Disease Prevention and Control Division at the Kaltara Health Office Agust Suwandy said the circular also asked hospitals and health centers to increase their vigilance.

Furthermore, conducting a hospital record review of cases of Acute Hepatitis of unknown etiology.

And report if you find Acute Hepatitis of unknown etiology to the District/City Health Office and the Kaltara Provincial Health Office.

"According to the governor's instructions, the Kaltara Health Office also carries out Monev to monitor the readiness of Health Facilities (FasKes) and laboratories in handling hepatitis in Kaltara," Agust said.

He said that the appeal was intended to be able to further improve health service facilities in Kaltara related to early vigilance in finding cases of Acute Hepatitis.

"Although no cases have been found in North Kalimantan, we must take quick action in handling hepatitis as early as possible," he said.