Health Ministry Probes Zika Virus infecting Indonesian in Taiwan

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Director General of Prevention for Disease Control the Ministry of Health, Mohamad Subuh, said that he is still researching on the origin of Zika virus which had infected an Indonesian sailor in Taiwan.  “The research is currently ongoing, we are still waiting for the report,” Subuh said in Sahid Building Jakarta on Wednesday, June 15.

Previously, a sailor from Blitar, East Java, with the initial PS, has been declared to be infected by Zika virus by quarantine officials at Kaohsiung International Airport, Taiwan.  The 22-year-old male arrived in Taiwan on June 1, 2016 and is currently undergoing medical treatment in the hospital until an observation is completed.

Subuh said that the Health Ministry is trying to discover where the victim was infected by the virus and request the East Java health service to check the victim’s surrounding house and environment in Tangkil Village, Wlingi Sub-district, Blitar District.

Based on the report from Blitar health service team on June 13, the larva monitoring result aided by Jumantik cadre in Tangkil Village in Q2 2016, mosquito larva was discovered in 18 out of 100 homes that have been visited.

Health service team have requested society to perform eradication of mosquito nest.  The patient’s travel history before departing to Taiwan is also being traced.  “Including people that have made contact with the patient and travel agency,” said Subuh.

According to Subuh, PS is undergoing treatment in a hospital in Taiwan.  His condition looks healthy because he is able to move, eat, and do various activities without any complaints.

MITRA TARIGAN