Monkeypox Cases Spread Across Jakarta, Banten, and West Java

Jakarta – The Indonesian Health Ministry has announced that based on the domicile of patients, monkeypox cases are spread across Jakarta, Banten, and West Java. 

"As of today, additional 3 new cases have been recorded, all in Jakarta," Director General of Disease Prevention and Control at the ministry, Maxi Rein Rondonuwu, said on Tuesday.

The additional cases have increased the number of mpox cases detected in Indonesia to 27 as of Tuesday.

According to the daily report issued by the Ministry of Health, as of October 29, at least 24 monkeypox cases had been recorded in the country.

Jakarta has registered 18 cases – 9 in South Jakarta, 5 in West Jakarta, 3 in East Jakarta, and 1 in North Jakarta.

Meanwhile, Banten has reported 5 infections: 2 in Tangerang district, 2 in South Tangerang city, and 1 in Tangerang city. As for West Java, only 1 case has been detected in Bandung city.

As information, all the patients are men aged 25 to 48 years, and most also have HIV/AIDS.

Rondonuwu stated that his ministry is continuing to carry out tracing efforts to identify new cases.

"Tracing efforts are getting better. Currently, there are 21 suspected cases awaiting laboratory confirmation results," 

Rondonuwu informed that so far, the Ministry of Health has classified 44 suspects as discarded or not related to monkeypox

He said that to tackle monkeypox, the Ministry of Health has made several surveillance efforts. The ministry has also conducted vaccinations since October 23 for the key population, with the total targeted recipients pegged at 477.

Furthermore, the ministry is cooperating with several parties in carrying out risk communication to curb the transmission of monkeypox in the country.

He also emphasized the importance of implementing a clean and healthy lifestyle as well as ensuring safe sexual activities.