Measles outbreak kills two

Theresia Sufa, The Jakarta Post, Bogor

A measles outbreak in Empang subdistrict, Bogor, has killed two babies and sickened 14 other children under the age of five, the municipality's health agency said on Thursday.

Four of the children are still being treated at the Indonesian Red Cross Hospital in Bogor.

The two babies who died in the outbreak were identified as Fikry, nine months, and Nurhalisah, 11 months.

Health agency head Triwanda Elan said on Thursday officials first identified the outbreak on May 27, upon the death of the babies.

So far, officials have identified 14 children under the age of five with measles.

"We have not moved yet to isolate Empang subdistrict, but what is going on there has forced us to declare an extraordinary situation.

"All children in the subdistrict under the age of five are being monitored and have been vaccinated," Triwanda said.

Measles is caused by a paramyxovirus and usually affects children. The incubation period is two to three weeks and the symptoms include rash, high fever and a cough.

"The virus could affect other young children, particularly any children whose immune systems are compromised or who are malnourished," he said.

According to the agency's records, measles affected 205 children under the age of five in Bogor last year. No one died from the disease.

From January to May this year, said Triwanda, a total of 108 children under the age of five in Bogor had contracted measles.