Epidemiologist Reminds Government To Prepare Monkeypox Vaccine Immediately

Illustration of monkeypox disease which is currently endemic in 70 countries around the world. (Ivan Balvan/Unsplash)

JAKARTA - Epidemiologist Dicky Budiman advises the government through the Ministry of Health to detect and prevent the spread of the monkeypox virus or monkeypox, tracing it to the second layer.

"Because this is a disease that is not kidding. Because the transmission is not as virulent as easy, in the sense of COVID-19. But this, if close contact occurs, it is easy. And that means contact tracing must be carried out. Even if it can reach the second layer," said Dicky when confirmed, Monday, August 22.

In addition, Dicky also said that during the tracing process, the health team had to make very systematic observations, in order to find out what factors were the problem with the disease.

"(In addition to) testing tracing with quarantine isolation, obviously three weeks, it must be three weeks. Surveillance data must also be carried out from private practice doctors as well as from clinics or hospitals," he continued.

On the other hand, Dicky asked the government to prepare a vaccine related to the handling of the monkeypox virus. So that there is no extraordinary spread like in other countries.

"I have reminded that we must have prepared the name of the vaccine. Although not much, because the vaccine ring is still considered relatively effective," he concluded.

Previously, the spokesman for the Ministry of Health, Mohammad Syahril, announced that there was a confirmed case of monkeypox in Indonesia, namely a 27-year-old man from DKI Jakarta.

"Today, there is one confirmed patient, from DKI Jakarta, a 27-year-old male, received a PCR test report last night," Syahril said at an online press conference, in Jakarta, Saturday, August 20. abroad and has symptoms of fever and rash in several parts of the body.

"There is a fever, then there is also an enlarged spleen, but he is in good condition, meaning he is not seriously ill and he has smallpox or rashes on his face, on the palms of the hands, feet and some around the genitals," he said.