Agus Handito, a representative of the ministry's arbovirus work team, said that the country's dengue caseload remains quite high and often leads to outbreaks and fatalities.
"Even though the government has made various efforts to tackle this problem, especially by eliminating mosquito breeding sites, we still see cases fluctuate every year," he said during a talk show on dengue fever threats on Saturday.
According to the World Health Organization, Indonesia has experienced a surge in dengue fever cases, with 88,593 cases confirmed and 621 deaths recorded as of April 30—around three times higher than in the same period last year.
Data from the Ministry of Health show that as of the 42nd week of 2024, 203,921 dengue cases have been detected with 1,210 fatalities.
As part of the push for zero dengue deaths by 2030, the ministry has intensified efforts to encourage people to get the complete dose of the dengue vaccination through the #Ayo3MPlusVaksinDBD movement.
So far, two types of dengue vaccines have been approved for distribution by the Food and Drug Supervisory Agency (BPOM). They can be obtained through a paid scheme.
Handito said that the Ministry of Health is continuing to conduct studies to obtain a recommendation from the Indonesian Technical Advisory Group on Immunization (ITAGI) so the vaccines can be used in a nationwide program.
The ministry is also utilizing the Wolbachia method, based on research conducted in Yogyakarta and other countries such as Brazil, Australia, and Vietnam, which has proven effective in preventing the spread of dengue.
Related news: Jakarta leans on Wolbachia method for dengue control
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Translator: Hana Dewi, Raka Adji
Editor: Anton Santoso
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