Tips to Prevent Measles Transmission During Eid Holiday

The Ministry of Health (Kemenkes) is reminding the public to remain vigilant regarding potential surges in measles cases as the Eid holiday and homecoming period approaches. Parents are urged to ensure their children receive complete measles vaccinations to prevent disease transmission in their hometowns.

Niken Wastu Palupi, Director of Health Promotion and Community Empowerment at Kemenkes, emphasised that measles has an extremely high transmission rate. Early prevention is crucial to ensure that family gatherings remain safe and healthy.

“As Eid approaches and it is time for people to travel home, we hope they will not transmit the disease and, when returning to their cities and workplaces, will not bring the disease with them,” Niken stated during a webinar on Monday, 16 March.

“We do not want our families to become ill. We hope everyone can remain healthy as we celebrate Eid,” she added.

Beyond vaccination, Niken advised travellers to exercise caution when visiting tourist attractions or crowded places during the holiday. Avoiding overly crowded areas is one preventive measure, as it is difficult to identify individuals who are already infected.

Niken noted that measles can be prevented through complete immunisation and the adoption of clean and healthy living practices (PHBS) including hand washing, using clean water, maintaining proper sanitation facilities, regular exercise, eating fruits and vegetables, and other PHBS measures.

Education about the importance of measles vaccination is also being promoted through schools. Teachers are considered vital in reminding students and parents to get vaccinated before travelling home for the holiday.

“On this important Islamic celebration, as we celebrate Eid al-Fitr, we hope everyone will remain healthy, our children will be healthy, and we can gather with family without any dangerous disease transmission,” she concluded.