Ministry of Health Responds to Measles Outbreak in Pamekasan with Immunization Efforts
Jakarta (ANTARA) – The Indonesian Ministry of Health is actively addressing a measles outbreak in Pamekasan Regency, East Java, through a targeted immunization campaign.
“In response to the outbreak in Pamekasan, we’ve deployed additional immunization resources with the immediate goal of controlling and ending the current outbreak,” stated Prima Yosephine, Director of Immunization at the Ministry of health, during a press briefing in Jakarta on Wednesday.
This supplemental immunization is being conducted alongside the upcoming Week of Immunization Pursuit (PENARI) program, scheduled to run from October 27th to November 1st, 2025.
ms.Yosephine emphasized that managing the outbreak is primarily the responsibility of the Pamekasan local government,requiring them to achieve a minimum 95% coverage rate for Outbreak Response Immunization (ORI). She urged the region to view this situation as a critical learning opportunity to prevent future occurrences.
“We encourage Pamekasan to leverage this moment to reach their ORI goals. A strong and unwavering commitment to safe, extensive, and equitable immunization is paramount,” she explained.
To further incentivize progress, the Ministry of Health is implementing a competitive element within the PENARI program. Regions demonstrating the highest immunization rates will be awarded prizes.”This will be a competition to see which region can deliver the most immunization services within a single week, and the winner will be recognized by the Ministry,” Ms. Yosephine added.
The need for increased immunization efforts comes as the pamekasan District Health Service reported a rise in measles-related fatalities,increasing from seven to ten as of October 8th,2025. Currently, 178 residents have tested positive for measles, with 734 suspected cases. Medical analysis indicates that deaths are largely attributed to complications such as pneumonia and encephalitis. Authorities note that many patients arrived at healthcare facilities in critical condition, highlighting the importance of early detection and preventative measures.