The puskesmas team must investigate quickly and report to us in less than 1x24 hours, and we will take intervention steps.
Jakarta (ANTARA) - The Jakarta Health Service has intensified the monitoring of diphtheria transmission following reports of an extraordinary event (KLB) in Garut District, West Java.

"We have a surveillance system for more than 25 infectious diseases that have the potential to become extraordinary events," head of the service, Widyastuti, said in Jakarta on Wednesday.

She asked all hospitals, community health centers (puskesmas), and other health facilities to record data systematically when treating patients suffering from infectious diseases.

This serves as an early detection measure so that interventions can be made for patients diagnosed during the outbreaks of diseases, including diphtheria, she said.

Apart from surveillance, her office has also increased vigilance by asking hospitals and health centers to carry out rapid investigations into findings of infectious disease cases.

Health facilities must report any finding of infectious disease cases to the Health Service within 24 hours, Widyastuti said.

"The puskesmas team must investigate quickly and report to us in less than 1x24 hours, and we will take intervention steps," she added.

So far, no diphtheria cases have been detected in Jakarta, she informed.

Earlier, Garut District declared a diphtheria outbreak after seven residents of Sukahurip Village, Pangatikan Sub-district, died after alleged exposure to the diphtheria virus.

Meanwhile, Head of the Communication and Public Service Bureau of the Health Ministry Siti Nadia Tarmizi said that local governments and communities can implement a number of steps to prevent the spread of diphtheria.

Health centers can start establishing diphtheria outbreak posts, and the community can start to limit outdoor activities for those who are sick and continue to carry out health protocols, especially in outbreak areas, by maintaining distancing and wearing masks.

Raising community awareness about diphtheria and the importance of immunization and increasing the coverage of complete basic immunization are also important, she added.

Generally, the initial symptoms of diphtheria include sore throat, fever, swollen lymph nodes, and weakness, Tarmizi informed.

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Translator: Dewa Ketut S W, Resinta S
Editor: Rahmad Nasution
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