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View all search resultsMalaria outbreak in Rokan Hilir persists two years on
In 2024, cases rose to 2,449, prompting the local administration to declare a malaria emergency in October to speed up mitigation efforts. Since then, authorities have extended the emergency status 20 times as cases continue to climb.
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Illustraiton of female Anopheles mosquito penetrating human skin. (Shutterstock/Amir Ridhwan)
A
lmost two years after declaring a malaria emergency, Rokan Hilir regency in Riau is still struggling to bring the outbreak under control, with cases continuing to rise across the region.
Malaria is a serious infectious disease caused by Plasmodium parasites, which are transmitted to humans through the bite of infected female Anopheles mosquitoes. It primarily affects red blood cells and can cause fever, chills, headache, fatigue and in severe cases, organ failure or death.
Zulkifli, head of the Riau Health Agency, said that since the start of this year, 232 malaria cases have been reported in Rokan Hilir, accounting for 97 percent of all cases in the province.
The trend mirrors 2024, when Rokan Hilir recorded 2,875 cases out of a total 3,000 malaria infections in Riau, roughly 95 percent of all cases.
“As of now, new cases continue to emerge, and the region remains under a malaria emergency status,” Zulkifli said on Sunday.
He said the Health Ministry has assisted Riau provincial administration in tackling the outbreak by deploying a response team and distributing rapid diagnostic tests to speed up malaria detection. The ministry has also supplied antimalarial medications and mobilized healthcare professionals, including doctors and nurses, on a large scale to help treat patients.
“These measures are intended to ensure that local health facilities can manage the surge in patients quickly and effectively,” he said.
