Acute respiratory infection cases rise in Palembang due to exposure to forest and land fire haze

A child suffering symptoms of acute respiratory infection (ISPA) received nebuliser treatment at the Forest and Land Fire (Karhutla) Health Post of the Sukarami Community Health Centre in Palembang, South Sumatra, on Tuesday (15/9/2026).

According to data from the Palembang City Health Office as of 14 September 2026, weekly ISPA cases rose from 3,807 in the fourth week of August to 4,104 in the first week of September, and increased again to 4,326 in the second week. The cases are dominated by residents of productive age and children, caused by exposure to haze from forest and land fires in a number of regencies and cities in South Sumatra.