This year`s number of diphtheria cases increased two-fold from 15 cases last year, Wahyu Wulandari, the head of the Lumajang health office`s disease prevention and observation section, said here on Friday.
"The Lumajang health office has been on alert of diphtheria since several months ago, even before the East Java government declared an extraordinary condition of diphtheria outbreak in the province, because the number of disphethria patients in Lumajang has kept on rising," he said.
Paramedics in community health centers (Puskesmas) in the district responded quickly to patients suspected of having been infected with diphtheria, so the patients could get medical treatment as early as possible, he said.
"If there are children having diphtheria symptoms, such as sore throat, Puskesmas personnel must immediately take them to dr Hariyoto Hospital in Lumajang for observation," he said.
Diphtheria diagnose is done via a throat swab, where a small section of tissue is removed and then sent to a laboratory in Surabaya, the capital of East Java Province, for analysis.
"The results of several samples received by the Lumajang health office were negative. But we remain on alert and ready to deal with the diphtheria outbreak which could easily infect children," he said.
"Diphtheria can be prevented by DPT immunization. I urge parents to take their children to nearby integrated health post centers (Posyandu) immediately to get immunization free of charge, in order to prevent diphtheria," he said.
Basic immunizations against diseases such as BCG, DPT, polio, measles, and hepatitis B, could protect babies so they will not easily get sick, he said. (*)
Editor: Kunto Wibisono
Copyright © ANTARA 2011
