Health Ministry Confirms No Zika Case in Indonesia and Urges Prevention

"There was an unconfirmed report in Jambi and no confirmation result report of Zika virus from the lab of the Ministry’s Health Research and Development Agency [Balitbangkes] and the lab of Eijkman Institute of Biomolecular," said the Head of Communications and Public Services Bureau of the Ministry of Health Oscar Primadi in his press statement on Sunday (1/31).

 

However, the Ministry urged the people to actively participate in preventing the possibility of transmission of Zika virus by avoiding the bites of Aedes Aegypti mosquitoes which are the same vectors of Dengue Hemorrhagic Fever.

 

The virus transmission prevention can be done by avoiding contact with mosquitoes and conducting mosquito eradication (PSN) 3M Plus which includes draining and closing the water reservoirs as well as utilizing or recycling used goods. Subsequently, we need to conduct other prevention activities such as sowing larvicide powders, using mosquito nets while sleeping, and using insect or mosquito repellent.

 

In addition, we need to control mosquito larvae by involving the community through the movement of One Home One Larva Supervisor (Jumantik), increasing body endurance through a clean and healthy living behavior (PHBS) such as a balanced diet, and conducting regular physical activities.

 

For women who are pregnant or planning to become pregnant should perform extra protections against mosquito bites to prevent Zika virus infection during pregnancy, for example, by wearing brightly colored clothing that covers most of the surface of the skin and avoiding the use of fragrances that can attract mosquitoes such as perfumes and deodorants.

 

Zika virus was first detected in Brazil on April 2015 and quickly spread to 18 states in the United States. The virus is suspected of causing babies to be born with abnormally small heads and undeveloped brains. (Translator: Erik Limantara)