"Immediately visit the nearest health facility if there are symptoms, cough, or breathing difficulty, followed by fever,"
Jakarta (ANTARA) - The Ministry of Health has urged the community to not panic over the recent mysterious pneumonia outbreak in China.

"The community should stay calm; do not panic," the ministry's director of communicable disease prevention and control, Imran Pambudi, said in a written statement released here on Thursday.

He informed that the pneumonia that is currently spreading in China is similar to common pneumonia, namely the one caused by bacterial infection. Based on epidemiological reports, most of the pneumonia cases are caused by the Mycoplasma pneumoniae bacteria.

These bacteria, he said, were a common cause of respiratory infections before COVID-19. They are known to have a long incubation period, therefore, they do not spread as quickly as the virus that causes COVID-19, so the fatality rate is low.

Nevertheless, the Ministry of Health has made several mitigation efforts to anticipate Mycoplasma spread in Indonesia, one of which has been the issuance of Circular Number PM.03.01/C/4732/2023 on alertness against Mycoplasma pneumoniae in Indonesia.

"We appeal to health offices, hospitals, and entry gates to the country to immediately report if there are indications of cases that lean toward pneumonia," he said.

According to him, mitigation efforts against the disease cannot be taken by the government alone, but must also involve a commitment from the community so that the control of pneumonia can be made more optimal.

To this end, the ministry is encouraging the community to take several steps.

The first step, he said, is getting vaccinated against influenza, COVID-19, and other pathogens related to respiratory diseases.

Second, the community is advised to avoid contact with people who are sick or maintain a safe distance. Third, people are encouraged to ensure good ventilation.

Fourth, the community is encouraged to follow a clean and healthy lifestyle, and fifth, people who are sick are advised to stay at home and wear masks.

"Immediately visit the nearest health facility if there are symptoms, cough, or breathing difficulty, followed by fever," Pambudi advised.

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Translator: Sean Muhamad, Raka Adji
Editor: Arie Novarina
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