The government must promptly respond to the International Health\nRegulation notification. This is because, after visiting Indonesia, two\nAustralian citizens were exposed to measles. The highly contagious\ndisease even claimed the life of an intern doctor at RSUD\nCimacan-Cianjur. He was still very young, 26 years old. His death has\nsimultaneously triggered a danger alarm. This is the first mortality\ncase in a young adult individual. It means that measles should never be\nunderestimated. The general public perception is that measles is not\ndangerous and only affects children.<\/p>\n
Indonesia has received \u2018red\u2019 status for the extraordinary measles\nincident (KLB). Its ranking is second among all countries in the world,\nafter Yemen. According to the Ministry of Health, the pattern has\nfluctuated since the beginning of 2026. The KLB is spread across 39\ndistricts\/cities in 14 provinces.<\/p>\n
The measles virus has the highest transmissibility hierarchy among\nall infectious diseases, including COVID-19. If someone is infected, it\nis predicted that 90% of people around them will also be exposed.\nEspecially if they lack immunity to measles. Transmission occurs from\nfour days before until four days after the appearance of the rash. The\npattern is exactly the same as COVID-19, through droplets when coughing,\nsneezing, or speaking. It can also occur through surfaces contaminated\nby droplets, then touching the eyes, nose, or mouth of nearby\nindividuals.<\/p>\n
IMMUNITY<\/p>\n
A robust immune system is the spearhead in fighting infections. At\nall times, various microbes have the opportunity to invade. Immune\nsystem dysfunction triggers infection risks at various levels. Although\nit can heal on its own, measles poses dangers to toddlers and the\nelderly. This is because their immune system spectrum is not at peak\nlevel. In toddlers, it has not developed optimally, while in the\nelderly, its performance begins to diminish.<\/p>\n
The risk of danger in young adults is relatively low. However, if\nthey experience immunocompromise, the probability of complications\nincreases. The causes are varied. For example, chronic diseases\n(tuberculosis, HIV\/AIDS, diabetes, autoimmune diseases, cancer). Obesity\nand unhealthy lifestyles, such as lack of sleep, excessive fatigue,\nstress, smoking, alcohol consumption, and nutritional deficiencies, also\ntrigger immunocompromise.<\/p>\n
KLB<\/p>\n
There are only two analyses why measles is spreading. First, the\nglobal transmission rate is increasing. Based on a release from the\nWorld Health Organization (WHO), outbreaks have occurred in the United\nStates and Mexico. Recorded in 2011, 2014, 2018, 2019, and most recently\nin July 2025. The incidence is the highest in the last three decades.\nYet in 2000, measles was declared eradicated in the US.<\/p>\n
Canada lost its measles elimination status on 10 November 2025.\nAlthough it had declared elimination in 1998. Europe faces a similar\nfate. Nearly 60,000 cases were detected in 45 out of 53 countries in the\n\u2018Blue Continent\u2019 region. According to UNICEF, the outbreak has spread to\nmore than a hundred countries and has infected 10.3 million people\nworldwide in 2023. It is categorised as eliminated if transmission stops\nin a geographical area for at least 12 months.<\/p>\n
Second, increasing global vulnerability due to declining vaccination\ncoverage, especially since 2023. Epidemiological facts prove that the\nmore individuals who are unvaccinated, the higher the risk of outbreaks.\nThere is a research model that can predict the correlation. If MMR\nvaccination coverage reaches 97%, the chance of an outbreak is only 16%.\nIf coverage is 70%, the outbreak probability is predicted to increase to\n78%. As many as 95% of reported measles cases in the US have never been\nvaccinated. Especially in individuals who experience complications up to\ndeath.<\/p>\n
Why does the measles KLB always recur? Even though vaccination has\nproven to be the most effective and efficient modality in eradicating\ninfectious diseases. The most dramatic example is the eradication of\nsmallpox. Vaccines succeeded in ending the smallpox pandemic, although\nit took about 200 years.<\/p>\n
WHO declared eradication on 8 May 1980. Vaccines also mitigated the\nCOVID-19 pandemic. Their effectiveness is not 100%, but they have\nsucceeded in ending the pandemic. Misinformation and the emergence of\nanti-vaccine groups colour the challenges in their implementation. The\npattern differs in each country. Now, similar challenges are faced in\neradicating the measles outbreak. Not only in Indonesia, but also in\nother countries.<\/p>\n
Over the last two decades, Robert F. Kennedy Jr (RFK) has actively\npromoted the theory of autism triggers. He has vigorously accused\nthimerosal as the cause through the Children Health Defense organisation\nhe founded. Thimerosal, which is mercury-based, is commonly used as a\nvaccine preservative. Now, through evidence-based medical research, it\nhas been proven that there is no connection between autism and\nthimerosal.<\/p>\n
However, reality says otherwise. Parents in the US have become\nreluctant to vaccinate their children due to concerns. To avoid\nwidespread impact on vaccination programmes, thimerosal has been\ngradually replaced with other preservatives. RFK\u2019s activities have\ngreatly influenced public thinking in the US and the world regarding\nrejection of vaccination programmes.<\/p>\n
Vaccine misinformation in Indonesia is instead linked to halal\nissues, fear of side effects, and feeling it is not needed. However,\nauthorities have guaranteed that such opinions are untrue.<\/p>\n
PREVENTIVE-VACCINATION<\/p>\n
Clean and healthy living behaviours (PHBS) are a preventive modality\nthat should be practised. The use of masks is highly recommended,\nespecially if in crowds or at-risk environments. MMR vaccination\n(Measles, Mumps, and Rubella) is the best preventive modality. In\naddition to being safe, its effectiveness reaches 97% after two doses.\nIn children, MMR can be combined with the varicella vaccine. It is\ncalled MMRV. After vaccination, the majority will be protected for life.\nMedical personnel and international tourists who lack immunity should be\nprioritised for vaccination.<\/p>\n
Hopefully, outbreak response immunisation can prevent the measles\noutbreak.<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/the-dark-side-of-measles-1775098328", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }