Mimika Regency Faces Measles Outbreak as Cases โSurge
Mimika Regency, Papua, is experiencing an extraordinary โevent (KLB) of measles, with a notable increase in โreported cases. The surge prompted a โcross-sectoral meeting onโ Saturday,September 20,2025,involving health โofficials,local leaders,and โฃcommunity representatives toโค address the growing public health concern.
According to Sisma HL, Secretary of theโข Mimika Health Office, the KLB โstatus was triggered โขby aโค rising trend in casesโข and โthe detectionโค of epidemiological โtransmission chains. “For example, in Kelurahan A there isโข a measles and then in Kelurahan Cโค there areโ alsoโฃ those โคwho have been hit, they have a contact relationship?”โ heโ explained. The Health Office is mobilizing teams to conduct targeted immunization efforts in Kamoro Jayaโ Villageโ and โคsirih Kebun, beginning theโค following Monday.
The number of suspected measles cases has risen sharply, from 65 in 2024 to 138 in 2025. Of the 138 samples sent to Surabaya for โtesting,19โ were confirmed positive for measles. โคHealth officials emphasize that accomplishedโ measles control relies heavily onโข community participation, particularly parental consent for childhood immunizations.
Sisma HL acknowledged challenges in achieving full immunizationโ coverage, โฃciting instances of parents refusing vaccinations or being unable to attend scheduled Posyandu sessions due to work commitments.โฃ Yohanes Kayame, โขSurveillance Officer for the Central papua Health Office, attributed โthe increase in cases to low immunization coverage, high โcommunity mobility, parental negligence, and unsanitaryโ environments.
Despite the rising numbers, officials view the โคincreased caseโข detection as a positive sign, indicating effective surveillanceโ and the potential to interrupt the chain โof transmission.