Indonesia Imposes Travel Advisory For countries Affected with Zika Virus

Indonesian Health Minister Nila Farid Moeloek speaking to reporters

As part of the efforts to protect Indonesian citizens from being affected with Zika virus, Indonesian Health Ministry on Wednesday evening (3/2) issued a travel advisory for Indonesian citizens who will travel to countries already infected with the virus.

The Ministry reported that countries already infected with the virus are Brazil, Cape Verde, Colombia, El Salvador, Honduras, Martinique, Panama, and Suriname.

Meanwhile, it reported that countries with active transmission of the virus include Barbados, Bolivia, Curacao, the Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Fiji, French Guiana, Guadeloupe, Guatemala, Guyana, Haiti, Mexico, New Caledonia, Nicaragua, Paraguay, Puerto Rico, Saint Martin, Samoa, Tonga, Thailand, US Virgin Islands, and Venezuela.

Minister of Health Nila Farid Moeloek also urged Indonesian citizens who are indicated to have been bitten by mosquitoes and have certain symptoms after travelling to countries those countries to immediately see the doctor.

She also urged pregnant women not to visit those countries and if they are forced to do so, she advised them to take strict preventive measures.

“We have to prevent ourselves from being bitten by mosquitoes by wearing long and covered attire, applying mosquito repellant lotion, and sleeping in a bed with a mosquito net or in a room protected with mosquito wire mesh,” the Minister said on Thursday morning (4/2).

In the meantime, to Indonesian citizens who have returned from countries already infected with the virus, the Minister urged them to have their health checked in the period of 14 days upon arriving in Indonesia.

“Do have yourself checked to the doctor if you have fever, rash, joint pain, and conjunctivitis (red eyes) and headache. Also do not forget to inform the doctor that you have travelled to one of the countries already infected with the virus,” the Minister said.

Nila further said that the Government has also taken measures to prevent the possibility of the virus entering the country due to the high intensity of goods and people traffic among countries.

“Therefore, Ministry of Health will raise alert in the country’s entry points through Port Health Offices Kantor (KKP) in all airports and seaports in Indonesia. Another measure is by improving health services,” the Minister said.

The Minister also urged the people to stay alert against the development of the virus but to refrain from panicking and overreacting.  (Biro Komunikasi dan Pelayanan Masyarakat Kemenkes/ES) (EP/YM/Naster)