"Until now, there are suspects—about nine patients—spread all across Indonesia. But we have tested (the samples) in Jakarta, and all of it showed negative results," the minister said at Raffles Jakarta Hotel after the launch of the SatuSehat Platform, which integrates data on medical services.
The government has provided reagents to laboratories for conducting RT-PCR tests to detect the virus that causes monkeypox, he added.
"We have also bought (reagents); hopefully, they will arrive from China later on," he informed.
Minister Sadikin said that the monkeypox virus can be easily recognized compared to SARS-CoV-2, which causes COVID-19.
"Because the monkeypox virus is bigger than SARS-CoV-2," he informed.
"On top of that, the symptoms can be seen from what appears upon the surface of the skin, such as lesions on either hands or face, skin that grow reddish, or swell in the crotch area," Sadikin added.
Related news: Ministry activates surveillance to prevent monkeypox spread
The minister said that generally, monkeypox is known to spread among a certain section of the populace, such as the gay community.
"Indeed, the spread is relatively rampant, just like HIV/AIDS," he added.
The ministry has activated surveillance and is monitoring groups that are vulnerable to the disease in a bid to check its spread.
It has been reported that monkeypox has infected more than 16 thousand people in 75 countries, including some in Asia.
According to information from the World Health Organization’s (WHO’s) official webpage, monkeypox can spread from animals to humans through direct contact with blood, bodily fluids, skin lesions, or the mucus of infected animals.
Meanwhile, human-to-human transmission can take place from contact with respiratory secretions, skin lesions of infected people, or contaminated surfaces.
The WHO has listed educating people about efforts to stem the spread of monkeypox as well as prompting people to increase vigilance against its spread as the two key strategies for countering the disease’s transmission.
Related news: Govt should intensify dissemination of information on monkeypox: DPR
Related news: Tangerang intensifies surveillance to prevent monkeypox transmission
Translator: Andi Firdaus, Mecca Yumna
Editor: Suharto
Copyright © ANTARA 2022
