Suspected Measles Cases Surge in Indonesia in January, Health Ministry Urges Public Vigilance
Jakarta, CNBC Indonesia - The Ministry of Health (Kemenkes) has recorded a surge in suspected measles cases in Indonesia in January 2026 compared to the same period in the last three years. This increase serves as a warning sign, although the mortality rate remains low.
The Acting Director-General of Disease Control at the Ministry of Health, Andi Saguni, stated that the increase is evident when compared year-on-year for January 2024, 2025, and 2026. The increase has tripled.
“If we compare the number of cases in January for these three years, there has been an increase, and January 2026 has the highest number,” he said during an online press conference on Thursday (February 26, 2026).
Andi Saguni detailed that throughout 2025, there were 116 Extraordinary Events (KLB) of measles spread across 89 districts/cities in 16 provinces. The total number of suspected cases reached 63,769, with 11,924 confirmed by laboratory tests.
Of all the cases, there were 69 deaths, with a Case Fatality Rate (CFR) of 0.1 percent. According to Andi, this figure is comparable to the CFR in developed countries. “Our CFR is 0.1 percent, which is the same as in developed countries such as Europe and others,” he added.
The five provinces with the highest number of KLB throughout 2025 were East Java, Banten, North Sumatra, West Sumatra, and Aceh. As of the 7th week of 2026, there were 8,224 suspected measles cases, including 572 laboratory-confirmed cases, with four deaths. The CFR is at 0.05%, lower than in some developed and developing countries.
Measles has recently come under renewed attention after Australia reported two imported cases from Indonesia through the International Health Regulation (IHR) mechanism. The first case was an 18-year-old woman who flew from Jakarta to Perth with complaints of a rash. The patient had received two doses of the MMR vaccine and is now declared cured.
The second case involved a 6-year-old girl who also traveled from Jakarta to Sydney. Unlike the first case, this patient had no history of vaccination.
This finding has raised concerns that the number of cases in the country could be higher than reported, especially in areas with low immunization coverage.
Measles is Highly Contagious
Consultant for Infection and Tropical Diseases at RSCM, Mulya Rahma Karyanti, reminded that measles is a highly infectious disease. “Measles is very contagious and can spread from one case to about 18 people around it,” she explained.
The transmission, she said, occurs through droplets and airborne particles. The virus can survive in the air or on the surface of objects.
The initial symptoms include fever, cough, runny nose, red eyes, followed by a reddish maculopapular rash that appears a few days later. In severe cases, measles can cause pneumonia, severe diarrhea, and even encephalitis, which is life-threatening.
Four Concrete Steps by the Government
The Ministry of Health stated that there are four main steps being taken:
Strengthening national surveillance, especially in areas with extraordinary events (KLB).
Accelerating routine immunization and catch-up MR immunization in areas with low coverage.
Isolating patients and providing treatment, including administering vitamin A.
Educating the public about clean and healthy living behaviors, including wearing masks when sick and washing hands frequently.
The government is also strengthening laboratory capacity with 11 ELISA and PCR testing facilities, as well as a real-time reporting system through the Early Warning and Response System (SKDR).
Currently, there is no specific antiviral drug for measles. Treatment is supportive, including administering vitamin A to boost the immune system. Measles-rubella (MR) immunization is given free of charge at 9 months, 18 months, and as a booster in the 1st grade of elementary school.
“Prevention is only through measles-rubella immunization,” said Dr. Mulya.