Two Patients From Jakarta Exposed To COVID-19 Variant Arcturus Experience Lung Area

Lustration - SARS-CoV-2 causes COVID-19. (ANTARA)

JAKARTA - The DKI Jakarta Health Office (Dinkes) said that the results of the medical examination of the second patient affected by the XBB.1.16 or Arcturus variant had pneumonia.

"The second patient of COVID-19 with the Arcturus variant in Jakarta has a strong cough accompanied by pneumonia," said Head of Surveillance of the DKI Jakarta Health Office, Ngabila Salama, to ANTARA via text message in Jakarta, Friday, April 14.

With these findings, Ngabila appealed to all people who experience symptoms of COVID-19 such as cough, runny nose, sore throat, nasal congestion and difficulty kissing smell, fever, nausea and vomiting to immediately check themselves at the nearest sub-district health center.

Because the increasing cases found at the puskesmas (community), the main transmission rate is in the family.

From data in India, the Arcturus variant, which is still a derivative of Omicron, is said to have new symptoms that are different from other variants, namely red eyes and increased eye dirt.

He stated that the inspection service at the puskesmas can be accessed by the public without any fees. With the record that the free service is intended for residents with ID cards or those who live in DKI Jakarta or who are routinely active in Jakarta, both schools and work.

PCR services at the DKI Jakarta Health Center are provided free during working hours for people who have symptoms of suspected COVID-19 or close contacts of positive cases of COVID-19. So please come to the nearest health center," said Ngabila.

For antigen services, the public can get it for free for a full 24 hours at the DKI Jakarta District Health Center.

Ngabila ensured that the DKI Jakarta Health Office would continue to strengthen genome sequencing for all positive cases found in Jakarta from the public health laboratory (labkesmas) and the private sector.

He asked the public not to panic. Whatever the variant, each party is expected to continue to work together to strengthen immunity with a healthy lifestyle and immunization.

"Get sick is still better with the discipline of wearing masks, especially if you are sick or close to sick people," he said.

Previously, through a separate confirmation, the Ministry of Health (Kemenkes) stated that two patients infected with the Omicron Arcturus subvariant who had been vaccinated until the third dose in Jakarta had been declared cured.

The patient is with the initials TSH (56) identified as positive Arcturus based on sampling on March 24, 2023 at the GSI Jakarta Laboratory. TSH is known as an Overseas Traveler (PPLN) from India who traveled in March 2023, "said Spokesperson

TSH had symptoms in the form of cough, runny nose, muscle aches, with comorbid hypertension, even though it had recovered after self-isolation. The Ministry of Health has also traced cases of three people who had close contact, namely a wife and two children.

"His wife has symptoms of cough and runny nose, but the results of the epidemiological investigation are negative. Meanwhile, the two children are asymptomatic and negative," he said.

Meanwhile, the second patient with the initials NFA (30), a female non-perpetrator of foreign travel in Jakarta, was confirmed by Arcturus based on sampling on March 29, 2023 at the RSPISS Jakarta Laboratory.

NFA experiences symptoms of cough, runny nose, nausea, vomiting, pneumonia, making it difficult to eat and not having comorbidities.*