"There has been a decline and the immunization response, the Outbreak Response Immunization (ORI), has been implemented in all regions that experienced outbreaks. Catch-up immunization campaigns have also been carried out in districts and cities with outbreaks, as well as in those seeing rising cases," the Acting Director General of Disease Control at the Ministry of Health, Andi Saguni, informed on Friday.
He warned that measles is highly contagious, with one person able to infect 12–18 others, mainly toddlers, though some adult cases have also been reported.
"There are two basic measles immunizations: at 9 months and 18 months. When the first dose is given at 9 months, the coverage for protection and immunity is around 80 percent. However, when the second dose is given at 18 months, the coverage increases to 97 percent," Saguni explained.
To prevent transmission, his office is collaborating with district and city health offices and the Health Quarantine Office at several homecoming post points to provide measles immunization services, in addition to providing Free Health Checks (CKG).
On that occasion, he reminded parents to pay attention to their children's condition before traveling this Eid season.
"If kids encounter fever, cough, runny nose, or other signs such as conjunctivitis that indicate measles, immediately take them to a health facility for examination," he said.
He also suggested parents postpone travel until the child recovers, given the highly contagious nature of measles.
Previously, Minister of Health Budi Gunadi Sadikin stated that his ministry is targeting 95 percent measles immunization coverage within one to two weeks before Eid al-Fitr on the third week of March.
"It has been going on for a week and progressing well. I do not have the exact figures yet, but we aim to achieve it before Eid," he conveyed on Thursday (March 12).
He explained that immunizations have been conducted in 50 districts/cities, with the goal of completing them before Eid as large-scale holiday travel could increase the risk of transmission.
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Translator: Mecca Yumna, Resinta Sulistiyandari
Editor: Azis Kurmala
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