8 Tangerang Sub-Districts Affected by Diphtheria Outbreak
11 December 2017 09:14 WIB
TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The diphtheria outbreak in Tangerang District has spread from six to eight sub-districts, with increasing number of diphtheria cases during the past week.
“[It increased] from 23 to 26 cases,” said Head of Tangerang District Health Agency Desiriana Dinardianti today.
Desiriana hopes that the outbreak response immunization (ORI) program that is held today on Monday, December 11, will persuade the public to visit health clinics (Puskesmas and Posyandu) to undergo immunization or receive diphtheria vaccine that is free of charge.
The government commenced a simultaneous diphtheria immunization today in 12 cities and three provinces that include Banten, Jakarta, and West Java, which includes Tangerang.
The diphtheria outbreak initially spread in Tangerang since April 2017. Tangerang Regent Ahmed Zaki Iskandar officially considered the outbreak as an extraordinary event in October following 12 known cases that had four of the patients died. At the time, cases of diphtheria spread in six sub-districts.
Meanwhile, in December of 2017, cases of diphtheria increased to 23 cases in nine villages at six sub-districts. The number of cases has increased to 26 cases since then.
“The cases of diphtheria emerged in Kosambi, Teluk Naga, Rajeg, Curug, Kelapa Dua, Balaraja, and Cisoka,” said Desiriana. Tangerang District Health Agency announced that the diphtheria immunization will be for all-ages in affected areas and hopes that parents will not refuse or deny their children to undergo immunization.
Joniansyah (Contributor)
