Indonesia Sees Rise in Flu and COVID-19 Cases as Rainy Season Begins
Jakarta,Indonesia – Indonesia is experiencing an increase in influenza and similar illnesses,including COVID-19,coinciding with the transition to the rainy season,the Ministry of Health reported. Health facilities across the country have reported a rise in cases over the last few weeks, mirroring a trend observed in neighboring Malaysia, Singapore, and Thailand.
The increase is largely attributed to the spread of type A influenza viruses. Health officials are urging the public, especially travelers and high-risk groups – including health workers, the elderly, pregnant women, and individuals with chronic diseases – to get vaccinated annually and practice preventative measures. This surge underscores the ongoing threat of respiratory illnesses in Indonesia, a tropical country where influenza viruses circulate year-round, with activity peaking during seasonal changes and periods of poor air quality.
According to Ministry of Health spokesperson, Aji, “We recommend that people, especially those in the high-risk groups, get the influenza vaccine once a year, especially for travelers and high-risk groups such as health workers, the elderly, pregnant women and individuals with chronic diseases.”
The Early Alert and Response System (SKDR) data confirms the upward trend in cases of influenza,ILI (Influenza-Like Illness),ARI (Acute Respiratory Infection),and COVID-19. The World Health Institution’s FluNet data also indicates similar increases in neighboring countries due to the prevalence of type A influenza viruses.
Aji emphasized that while influenza viruses circulate throughout the year in Indonesia, activity intensifies during the transition to the rainy season and when air quality deteriorates in major cities.He stated,”But activity increases at certain times. Currently there is a transition to the rainy season and the air quality is poor in several cities in Indonesia.”
