Central Java Provincial Government Designates 3 Areas as Measles Outbreak and 2 as Suspects
The Central Java Provincial Government has designated three areas—Cilacap, Klaten, and Pati—as Extraordinary Events (KLB) for measles. Meanwhile, two other areas, Brebes and Kudus, hold suspect measles status.
Measles cases have begun to spread in several regions of Central Java, including Pati and Kudus Regencies. This is occurring due to uneven immunisation coverage in the community and the suspension of activities such as posyandu during the COVID-19 pandemic.
In Pati Regency, 5-6 measles cases have been found in Tambakromo and Sukolilo Sub-districts. In Kudus Regency, there are 113 suspects and 12 positive measles cases among children aged 0-9 months.
“It started spreading from early March, and we are still conducting data collection,” said the Head of Prevention and Disease Control (P2P) of the Pati Health Office, Salis Diah Rahmawati, on Monday (30/3).
Sub-Coordinator of Surveillance and Immunisation at the Kudus Regency Health Office (DKK), Aniq Fuad, stated that hundreds of measles patients have been treated at several regional hospitals.
“We have conducted laboratory examinations; a total of 464 samples have been sent for testing, and from 60 samples already examined, 31 were declared positive with a positivity rate of around 6.68 percent,” said Aniq Fuad.
Central Java Deputy Governor Taj Yasin Maimoen stated that the measles outbreak is occurring due to pockets in the community that have not been reached by immunisation. He noted the very high transmissibility of measles. Therefore, local governments are preventing it by pursuing measles immunisation.
“This is a momentum to catch up on the backlog, so strengthening immunisation is key, not only for measles but also for other infectious diseases like TB,” said Taj Yasin after receiving a Working Visit from Commission IX of the DPR in Semarang, on Monday (30/3).
A Circular Letter Number HK.02.02/C/1602/2026 on Vigilance against Measles for Medical Personnel and Health Workers has been issued.
MPR Deputy Chair Lestari Moerdijat highlighted the surge in measles cases in Indonesia. She emphasised the importance of complete immunisation to prevent the risk of infectious diseases.
Limitations in access and vaccine availability in several areas remain a challenge.
Jember Regency Government held mass measles immunisation (ORI) in Bintoro to prevent transmission and achieve herd immunity targets amid the 2026 KLB threat.
Measles cases in Indonesia have reached 10,301. Experts state that the decline in vaccination post-pandemic is the main cause of the increase in cases.