"There has been a spoken report from health facilities, and currently, it is in the confirmation stage by the Jakarta Health Office. The public is advised to wear masks," the ministry's Director of Communicable Disease Prevention and Control Imran Pambudi confirmed here on Tuesday.
He said that the ministry is currently trying to confirm the number of patients with the Jakarta Health Office, and based on the latest information from health facilities treating them, the patients are experiencing mild symptoms and receiving outpatient treatment.
Earlier, Pambudi had informed that the mycoplasma bacteria, the main cause of the pneumonia outbreak in children in China, is a common bacteria that was known to cause respiratory infections before COVID-19.
"In China, mycoplasma is the most common cause of pneumonia cases. Mycoplasma is a bacteria, not a virus, and was a common cause of respiratory infections before the COVID-19 era," he said.
He added that mycoplasma is also a common cause of influenza and lung disease, with the incidence recorded at 8.6 percent, and based on information from the World Health Organization (WHO), there has been an increase in infections caused by Mycoplasma pneumoniae since May 2023 in China.
"The WHO detected signals of undiagnosed pneumonia, especially in children, which was published in the ProMED journal on November 22, 2023. Three out of four patients were diagnosed as infected with mycoplasma, apart from other influences such as SARS-CoV and influenza," he said.
The Ministry of Health has also conveyed eight WHO recommendations to the public to prevent the transmission of Mycoplasma pneumoniae, he added.
The first recommendation is getting vaccinated against influenza, COVID-19, and other pathogens related to respiratory diseases, if needed.
Second, avoiding contact with people who are sick. Third, staying at home or self-isolating if sick.
Fourth, undergoing health examinations and medical treatment according to needs, and fifth, wearing masks.
"Sixth, ensure good ventilation, and seventh, implement a clean and healthy lifestyle, such as washing hands with antiseptic soap and running water," he said.
Lastly, the community is advised to visit a health facility immediately if they experience pneumonia symptoms, such as cough, breathing difficulty, and fever, he added.
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Translator: Lintang Budiyanti, Raka Adji
Editor: Rahmad Nasution
Copyright © ANTARA 2023
