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Low vaccination rate causes measles outbreak in Deyai villages
The low rate of vaccination in Deyai, Papua, has been identified as the primary cause of a measles outbreak in the regency, which local health authorities have declared an Extraordinary Occurrence (KLB).
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Protecting health: A health worker in Palembang, South Sumatra, prepares a vaccination on July 5. (Antara/Feny Selly)
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he low rate of vaccination in Deyai, Papua, has been identified as the primary cause of a measles outbreak in the regency, which local health authorities have declared an Extraordinary Occurrence (KLB).
Local health agency data shows that 40 infants have died from measles in Deyai in the last three months as a result of low immunization coverage in villages across the regency.
The viral respiratory infection was found to have spread to the four villages of Digikotu, Epanai, Piyakemidi and Yiniboda in West Tigi district, Deyai.
“The very low immunization rate has caused the KLB. Three months ago, the Deyai Health Agency notified all residents to vaccinate their infants. Many infants died of measles, which means that these children were not yet vaccinated,” Papua Health Agency secretary Silwanus Sumule said in Jayapura on Friday.
He said a team from the Papua Health Agency, supported by teams from Deyai and Paniai regencies, confirmed that the 40 infants had died of measles during a field visit.
“The teams have all carried out medical preventive measures so the illness will not spread to other villages,” said Silwanus, adding that he had reported the KLB status of the measles outbreak to the Health Ministry.
West Tigi district head Frans Bobii said mass vaccinations had not been conducted in the district for two years. “The government has built facilities, but few people are willing to vaccinate their babies. People here are still apathetic about vaccinations,” he said. (ebf)
