Diphtheria Hits 19 Provinces
From January to December 2017, Health Ministry recorded 450 cases of the extraordinary occurrence of diphtheria in children aged 5-9.
A student receives a tetanus immunization during the implementation of the School Children Immunization Month (BIAS) at SDN 1 in an isolated area of Cot Mambong Nisam village, North Aceh, Aceh, Tuesday (14/11). The TD (Tetanus toxoid) and DT (Diphtheria tetanus) immunization keeps children safe from measles, diphtheria and tetanus caused by virus, as well as improves the health of students in schools all over Indonesia.
JAKARTA, KOMPAS – Diphtheria has spread in the country over the last few months. From January to December 2017, the Health Ministry recorded 450 cases of the extraordinary occurrence of diphtheria in children aged 5-9, the most common sufferers of the disease. Owing to this, the government will carry out immunization in areas that are infected by the disease.
The Health Ministry’s director general of disease prevention and control, Mohamad Subuh, Sunday (3/12) in Jakarta, said that 19 provinces, including Banten, Jakarta, East Java, West Java and West Sumatera, had reported a suspected extraordinary occurrence (KLB) of diphtheria in their respective regions. “Evaluation is being carried out to confirm the reports,” he said.