Based on data from the Ministry of Health, the number of ISPA cases in May 2023 had reached 1,515,070, while in June, the figure fell to 1,305,185 cases and thereafter dropped to 1,290,171 cases in July, while in August, there was an increase to 1,387,650 cases.
Director of Prevention and Control of Infectious Diseases at the Ministry of Health, Imran Pambudi, noted in a written statement here on Thursday that the ministry had distributed an alert letter to mitigate the impact of ISPA.
He highlighted several mitigation steps taken by the ministry, including increasing early detection of ISPA and pneumonia in all age groups and optimizing the discovery of pneumonia cases in children under the age of five at Community Health Centers (Puskesmas) by keeping track of the breathing rate of babies and toddlers, who are coughing and/or encountering difficulty in breathing.
In addition, the ministry conducted strict monitoring of all findings of ISPA and pneumonia cases. Each case finding will then be reported and analyzed weekly by the ISPA Working Team.
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Pambudi appealed to the public to implement health protocols, regularly check air quality via applications or websites, use masks, reduce outdoor activities, and avoid sources of pollution within or outside the home.
The ministry is also increasing the readiness of health services, such as offline and online consultation services as well as outpatient and inpatient services, both in primary and secondary health care facilities.
He noted that people experiencing symptoms of coughing and/or difficulty in breathing can immediately consult online or offline for further action from health workers.
ISPA symptoms are a series of disease symptoms, such as cough, runny nose, sore throat, dizziness, and sometimes fever. In bad ISPA conditions, people can experience bronchitis and pneumonia or lung inflammation.
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Translator: Hana Dewi Kinarina Kaban, Katriana
Editor: Yuni Arisandy Sinaga
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