The Health Department (Dinkes) of Nusa Tenggara Barat Province (NTB)\nhas declared an Extraordinary Event (KLB) of suspected measles in three\ndistricts: Bima Regency, Bima City, and Dompu Regency. The declaration\nfollows a surge in cases over the past several weeks, with a total of\n985 suspected measles cases recorded by week 7 of 2026, all originating\nfrom these three districts.<\/p>\n
Lalu Hamzi Fikri, Head of the NTB Health Department, stated that the\ncase increase is driven by several factors, particularly the persistence\nof children who have not received complete measles-rubella (MR)\nimmunisation.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis increase is influenced by groups of children who have not\nreceived complete MR immunisation. In recent years, routine immunisation\ncoverage has also experienced fluctuations, resulting in an accumulation\nof populations vulnerable to measles transmission,\u201d he said in an\nofficial statement received on Thursday (12 March 2026).<\/p>\n
Hamzi explained that high population mobility during year-end and\nyear-start periods has also contributed to case transmission.\nAdditionally, delays in case detection and initial response in the field\nhave accelerated disease spread.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe also observe high population mobility at year-end and year-start,\ncompounded by delays in detection and initial response in several areas.\nEnvironmental factors and community behaviour also influence the rise in\ncases,\u201d he explained.<\/p>\n
According to Hamzi, the majority of cases occur in children under\nfive years of age, most of whom have incomplete immunisation status or\nhave never been immunised.<\/p>\n
\u201cRecorded cases are dominated by children under five years old, most\nof whom have incomplete immunisation status or have never been\nimmunised. This demonstrates that low immunisation coverage is the\nprimary risk factor for this outbreak,\u201d he stated.<\/p>\n
To curb disease transmission, the NTB Provincial Government,\nalongside district and city governments, has implemented various\nmeasures, including strengthening active surveillance and contact\ntracing down to village and health centre levels.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe are strengthening active surveillance and contact tracing at\nvillage and health centre levels. Additionally, we are implementing\nOutbreak Response Immunisation (ORI) across all health centres in Bima\nRegency, Bima City, and Dompu Regency, prioritising infants and children\naged 9 to 59 months,\u201d Fikri said.<\/p>\n
Beyond immunisation, case management also involves administering\nvitamin A to measles patients to prevent complications and reduce\nmortality risk.<\/p>\n
Hamzi added that the government is also strengthening public\neducation regarding measles symptoms and the importance of seeking\nimmediate medical attention at health facilities when experiencing fever\naccompanied by cough, rhinitis, and rash.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe are also ensuring the availability of outbreak logistics such as\nvaccines, vitamin A, and clinical management support at health\nfacilities. Health facilities are also strengthening isolation triage\nfor measles so that suspects with fever, rash, and cough or rhinitis\nsymptoms can be immediately isolated to prevent wider transmission,\u201d he\nsaid.<\/p>\n
The NTB Health Department emphasised that it will continue monitoring\nand evaluating the situation regularly until it is declared under\ncontrol.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe urge the community to remain calm but vigilant. The active role\nof parents is crucial in ensuring children receive complete immunisation\naccording to schedule so that the measles transmission chain can be\nbroken,\u201d Hamzi concluded.<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/985-suspected-measles-cases-prompt-ntb-provincial-government-to-declare-outbreak-in-three-districts-1773330929", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }