Ministry of Health Issues Alert on Measles Vigilance to Protect Medical Personnel
Jakarta (ANTARA) - The Ministry of Health has issued Circular Number HK.02.02/C/1602/2026 on Vigilance Against Measles for Medical and Health Personnel, in response to the increasing number of measles cases and the occurrence of extraordinary events (KLB) in several regions. “With the increase in measles cases and the high number of hospitalisations, medical and health personnel become a high-risk group. Therefore, vigilance and protection measures must be strengthened in all health service facilities,” Acting Director General of Disease Control and Prevention Andi Saguni said in Jakarta on Sunday. He stated that medical and health personnel are a vulnerable group to infection due to the intensity of contact with patients. Based on data up to week 11 of 2026, there have been 58 measles KLB in 39 districts/cities spread across 14 provinces. The number of cases reached 2,740 at the beginning of the year, although it now shows a declining trend to 177 cases. Through this circular, it instructs hospitals and health service facilities to strengthen prevention measures, including conducting early screening and triage, preparing isolation rooms, ensuring the availability of personal protective equipment (PPE), and strengthening the infection control system. In addition, medical and health personnel are also urged to discipline in implementing infection prevention protocols, and to immediately report if they experience symptoms indicative of measles. “We urge all health personnel to remain disciplined in carrying out prevention protocols and to immediately report if they find suspected cases. A rapid response is very important to prevent wider transmission,” Andi added. The Ministry of Health also emphasised that all suspected measles cases must be reported within a maximum of 24 hours through the established surveillance system. With the issuance of this circular, it is hoped that all stakeholders can increase readiness and together suppress the spread of measles, while protecting health personnel as the frontline of services.