Avoid Touching Infants Indiscriminately During Idul Fitri to Prevent Measles Transmission
Acting Director General for Disease Prevention and Control at the Ministry of Health, Andi Saguni, has urged the public to reduce gatherings and to avoid indiscriminate touching of infants during Idul Fitri to prevent measles transmission.
‘The habit of touching babies at gatherings, especially during Lebaran, should be reduced or avoided due to the high risk of transmission. It is closely tied to health communication and education, how health promotion to the public,’ he said at a press conference yesterday, 6 March.
The Health Ministry’s guidance for Eid al-Fitr states that if a child has fever or a rash, they should promptly go to health service posts for care, including examination.
In addition, for people with symptoms or measles cases, it is advisable not to hold gatherings during Idul Fitri because of the high risk of spreading measles to others.
‘There are moments during Lebaran when we should gather or visit relatives. But for those who are ill, or who have fever and signs of suspected measles such as a red rash, they should not gather or visit tourist spots or other crowded places. It is better to stay at home,’ he said.
Measles patients must isolate and limit activities outside the home until they are truly recovered to protect others.
‘Measles has a very high transmission rate. From one person it can spread to 12 to 18 people,’ he explained.
He added that gatherings or leaving the house during the active infection period carry a high risk of creating new clusters of transmission in public places.
(H-2)
The Ministry of Health reported 8,224 suspected measles cases up to March 2026. See the distribution of outbreak areas and the MR supplementary immunisation schedule for PAUD/TK children here.
The Indonesian Paediatric Association (IDAI) highlighted a resurgence of measles in several parts of Indonesia, linked to waning herd immunity.
The number of suspected measles cases found in 2025 rose by 147 percent compared with 2024, making strengthening the early warning system a top priority.
The United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reported a significant rise in measles cases in early 2026.
‘From district-level data there were 16 positive measles cases, 0 positive rubella and 63 discarded.’