Health Minister Urges Children in Forest Fire Areas to Continue Wearing Masks Despite School Closures
The Minister of Health, Budi Gunadi Sadikin, stated that children in areas affected by forest and land fires (karhutla) must continue to wear masks to prevent acute respiratory infections (ARI), even when learning is conducted outside of school premises.
“Whether they are at school or staying at home, it is the same; they are exposed to the air. From a health perspective, we are coordinating with all health offices. The important thing is that they must wear masks so that the dangerous PM2.5 particles can be filtered out,” Budi said in Jakarta on Tuesday.
This statement was made in response to the implementation of remote learning for children in forest fire-affected regions. He noted that wearing masks is a superior preventative measure. Consequently, the Ministry has dispatched more than 5 million masks and oxygen concentrators, as it is not feasible to relocate the affected populations.
According to data cited from the Ministry of Health’s Public Health Emergency Operations Center (PHEOC), as of 27 August, there were 4,082 cases of respiratory infections in areas affected by forest fires, with a cumulative total of 13,449 cases recorded throughout July–August 2026 across seven provinces.
Seven provinces have declared a state of emergency for forest and land fires: South Kalimantan, Central Kalimantan, West Kalimantan, East Kalimantan, Jambi, Riau, and South Sumatra.
Smoke from forest fires can cause various health issues, including ARI, coughing, shortness of breath, sore throats, asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), as well as eye and skin irritation. Exposure to smoke can also increase the risk of heart disease and stroke, particularly among vulnerable groups.
Several strategies have been implemented by the Ministry of Health to respond to the situation, including intensifying health education and promotion; monitoring diseases such as ARI, pneumonia, asthma, and eye and skin irritation; conducting air quality surveillance; and issuing health alerts.