TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Over the past few weeks, monkeypox or mpox cases in Indonesia continued to spread. As of October 29, there were already 27 confirmed cases distributed across Jakarta, West Java, and Banten.

Acting Mayor of Yogyakarta Singgih Raharjo warned the residents to stay vigilant of this fact since Yogyakarta is a tourist destination and a mobilization center for people from various regions.

"We urge the residents with symptoms similar to monkeypox to consult their condition to medical facilities," Singgih said. There have been no confirmed cases of monkeypox in Yogyakarta.

The head of the Yogyakarta Health Office Emma Rahmi Aryani stated that in anticipation of monkeypox, the government is readying all medical facilities from public health centers to hospitals. The agency also intensifies socializing doctors across the region about monkeypox.

"Including strengthening the surveillance with an early warning system and improving response to the findings of people with similar symptoms to monkeypox in hospitals and public health centers," she said.

According to Emma, the surveillance system is managed by surveillance officers stationed in 45 sub-districts in Yogyakarta. "The officers actively conduct continuous observation to gather information, news, and rumors relating to monkeypox," she said.

Clinically, she added, the symptoms of monkeypox are similar enough to chickenpox. The infection is spread through touch with people or animals contracting monkeypox. Indirectly, the infection also spreads through materials that linger in the air.

"Since the virus could spread through the air, the main preventive measure is to wear masks," she said. Wearing masks is not only the preventive measure against Covid-19, she said.

Additionally, people must avoid unsafe sex with many people at once and avoid having sex with a person with rashes on their skin, Emma concluded.

PRIBADI WICAKSONO

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