Measles Cases Feared to Surge, Central Java Provincial Government Intensifies Vaccination

Measles cases in Central Java have surged to 2,188 as of now. Concerned about a larger spike, the Central Java Provincial Government is intensifying measles vaccinations. Monitoring by Media Indonesia on Thursday (9/4) shows that local and provincial governments in Central Java are continuously boosting measles vaccinations as a preventive measure, as cases continue to rise in 35 areas. Local governments are now acting to be alert to the increase detected through screenings conducted since early April. “We are wary of the recent boom in measles, especially in outlying areas,” said the Head of the Kudus District Health Office, Abdul Hakam. As of now, Abdul Hakam continued, Kudus has recorded 464 measles cases, comprising 257 males and 207 females. “Some are being treated in hospital ICUs, but there have been no deaths yet,” he added. The Head of Prevention and Disease Control at the Pati Health Office, Salis Diah Rahmawati, said that since being designated as an extraordinary event (KLB) for measles, the Pati Regency Government has been vigorously promoting vaccination campaigns to the remotest villages, especially for infants and children who have not yet received the measles vaccine. “We are intensifying vaccinations to the villages because many residents, especially children, have not been vaccinated due to the previous COVID-19 pandemic,” said Salis Diah Rahmawati. Meanwhile, based on data compiled from the Central Java Provincial Health Office on Thursday (9/4), measles cases in Central Java have jumped to 2,188, spread across 35 regencies/cities, including Kudus Regency with 501 cases, Brebes with 202 cases, Cilacap with 119 cases, Pati with 72 cases, and Klaten with 54 cases. “Laboratory-confirmed positive measles cases number 144, and positive rubella cases 18, with the highest distribution of positive measles in Cilacap Regency with 21 cases, Banyumas with 20 cases, Pati with 20 cases, as well as Klaten with 6 measles and 1 rubella,” stated the Head of the Central Java Health Office, Yunita Dyah Suminar. To anticipate the surge in measles cases, she explained, efforts include promoting measles immunisation simultaneously with district/city health offices to prevent further spread. “If symptoms such as red rashes and fever are found, it is urged to immediately seek examination from a doctor or the nearest community health centre,” she said. Additionally, to accelerate measles immunisation, according to Yunita Dyah Suminar, the Central Java Provincial Government will integrate it with the mobile specialist doctor programme (Speling) and Free Health Check (CKG) initiatives that have reached villages.