Eid Al-Fitr Homecoming 2024, Beware Of Covid-19 And Singapore Flu Threatening Health

Illustration of people's activities using masks outdoors (ANTARA)

JAKARTA - Member of the study on the prevention of infectious diseases, the Executive Board of the Indonesian Doctors Association (IDI) Erlina Burhan said climate change was at risk for the health of the homecoming crowd.

"If you are at risk of being easily infected, such as parents, people with comorbidities, have a risk of contracting (a disease), we must be aware of ourselves to wear masks," Erlina said in an online discussion "Ahead of the Lebaran Homecoming" on March 27.

Erlina said the rainy season also has the potential to reduce the immune system in some people. According to him, crowds when going home are when people need to increase their vigilance, including keeping their bodies from contracting respiratory problems such as Covid-19 or Singapore flu disease whose cases are increasing by coxsackievirus infections.

Regarding the coxsackievirus, the mode of transmission is quite large. Generally, it is direct contact with sufferers through rashes on the open skin (breaks) or droplet liquids touch our mouth and oral cavity, or through food that enters the mouth.

The disease causes sufferers to have fever, cough and sore throats with an average incubation period of 10 to 14 days.

Deaths from this disease are still very rare, the rate is still below monkeypox, which has a death rate of between three and six percent.

"The principle of handling is that it is supportive and provides drugs according to symptoms. Because there is no vaccine for the Singapore flu, make sure to do ethics when coughing and reduce direct contact with other individuals and sterilize hands and maintain body hygiene by bathing every day," he said.

According to Erlina, until the 11th week of 2024, the Ministry of Health reported that 5,461 people had contracted the Singapore flu in Indonesia.

He added that the Banten Health Office reported 738 cases of Singapore flu in the area from January to March 2024.

The Depok Health Office reported that 45 suspected cases of Singapore flu in the area occurred from January to March 2024, 10 of whom were being treated in one hospital.