"Even though there have been no confirmed cases of monkeypox transmission in Indonesia, the government is continuing to intensively monitor the development of this disease," the ministry's deputy for coordination for health quality improvement and population development, Agus Suprapto, said when contacted here on Saturday.
The mitigation system to prevent the entry of the disease has been working well, he added.
"The surveillance system has been activated at all entry points to Indonesian territory. The Port Health Office is continuing to check every traveler coming from countries with cases of monkeypox transmission," he noted.
Laboratories have also been prepared to carry out epidemiological investigations on monkeypox, including examinations to detect the virus that causes the disease.
"In addition, the government has also prepared other anticipatory steps to respond to the development of monkeypox," he said.
The government will conduct massive dissemination of information on monkeypox in order to improve the community's understanding and awareness, Suprapto informed.
In addition, it is considering the inputs of Speaker of the People's Consultative Assembly (MPR), Bambang Soesatyo, who has called for the immediate establishment of a task force for handling monkeypox cases, he added.
"Epidemiological developments and the escalation of monkeypox cases are also being monitored," Suprapto said.
Earlier, the MPR Speaker had said that the government needs to form a task force to handle monkeypox cases without delay, considering that the disease has been detected in several countries.
Soesatyo also asked the government to cooperate with relevant parties to expand and tighten screening at every entry point to the country—from ports, and airports, to land border crossing posts.
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Translator: Wuryanti Puspitasari, Raka Adj
Editor: Rahmad Nasution
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