TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Twenty multidrug-resistant tuberculosis (MDR TB) cases have been found in West Jakarta, an official has disclosed, as reported by Antara News.

West Jakarta Health Agency head Widyastuti revealed the data over the weekend, saying that the agency had been on alert due to the cases.

“This disease is contagious and very dangerous. One person who has been declared positive for MDR TB can transmit it to 10 to 11 people around him or her,” she said.

Widyastuti said the disease could appear when a patient with tuberculosis did not regularly take the necessary treatment.

“Usually it is caused by the patient’s lack of discipline with taking the medication, so the body does not react to it. A TB patient should take intensive medication for six months.

“If he ignores that, the patient will suffer from MDR TB,” she said, pointing out that an MDR TB patient should take intensive medication for two years, which costs up to Rp 200 million (US$16,864).

She cited Persahabatan Hospital in Rawamangun, East Jakarta, as the only hospital in the capital that can treat MDR TB patients.

To prevent more MDR TB cases, she said that the agency, working together with community health centers (Puskesmas), conducted regular check-ups on TB patients.

“We also established medication control teams consisting of people closest to TB patients to supervise them,” she said.

ANTARA