Two Foreign Nationals Test Positive for Measles After Travelling from Indonesia; Ministry of Health Strengthens Early Detection and Measles Immunisation Coverage

Jakarta, VIVA – The Indonesian Ministry of Health (Kemenkes RI) is responding to notifications from the International Health Regulation (IHR) from the Australian Health Authority regarding measles cases in two foreign nationals who had travelled from Indonesia in February 2026.

Acting Director General of Disease Control at the Ministry of Health, Andi Saguni, revealed that based on the information received, the first case involves an 18-year-old woman, while the second case involves a 6-year-old girl.

“Based on the information received, the first case is an 18-year-old woman with a complete history of MMR vaccinations in 2009 and 2012. She travelled on Batik Air flight from Jakarta to Perth on 7-8 February 2026. Symptoms of the rash appeared on 8 February in Perth, and the PCR test was positive,” he said, as quoted from the official Instagram account of the Ministry of Health, Thursday, 26 February 2026.

Meanwhile, the second case involves a 6-year-old girl who has no history of measles immunisation. The child travelled from Jakarta to Sydney on 17 February.

“The second case is a 6-year-old girl with no history of measles immunisation, who travelled on Garuda Indonesia flight from Jakarta to Sydney on 17 February 2026. Symptoms of fever, cough, and runny nose appeared on 11 February, and the PCR test was positive on 18 February. There were no deaths in both cases,” he said.

Following the report, the government ensures that efforts to strengthen surveillance and additional immunisation are being intensified.

“So far, there has been no national measles outbreak. In addition to strengthening surveillance of measles, the government is also intensifying the implementation of additional measles immunisation, including for school-aged children, in areas where there have been extraordinary events of measles in 2025 and 2026,” said Andi.

Andi also explained that in addition to strengthening surveillance and immunisation systems, the Ministry of Health is also preparing healthcare facilities, including hospitals, to anticipate and handle potential cases with complications. In addition, the Ministry of Health also emphasised that parents should complete their children’s measles immunisation status, given that this disease is contagious.

“Strengthening the treatment and care of measles cases with complications is being prepared in healthcare facilities, including hospitals. The Ministry of Health appeals to the public to ensure that their measles immunisation status is complete according to the schedule, especially for children of toddler age,” he said.