Minister Calls for Vigilance Following Acute Hepatitis Outbreak

Minister of Health Budi G. Sadikin delivers a statement after attending a meeting chaired by President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo at the Presidential Office, Jakarta, Monday (05/09). (Photo by: PR of Cabinet Secretariat/Agung)

Following the global outbreak of accute hepatitis, Minister of Health Budi Gunadi Sadikin has urged the public to stay vigilant and take preventive measures.

“The virus is transmitted through food consumption so it is important to wash our hands to make sure that the food our children consumes is clean,” the Minister said after attending a meeting chaired by President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo at the Presidential Office, Jakarta, Monday (05/09).

For the record, the initial symptoms of acute hepatitis are nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, diarrhea, and sometimes low-grade fever, while more severe symptoms include dark urine and pale stools.

Budi also urged parents to immediately bring their children with the symptoms to the nearest health facilities to obtain an initial diagnosis, adding that there are currently there are 15 suspected acute hepatitis cases.

The first three cases in Indonesia were reported on April 27, a few days after the World Health Organization (WHO) reported the outbreak in Europe.

“On April 27, we immediately issued a circular so that all hospitals and health offices could carry out monitoring of the cases,” he said, adding that Ministry of Health has contacted the Center for Disease Control and Prevention of the United States and the British Government to get information about the disease.

The Minister also explained about foot and mouth diseases occurring in livestock in East Java province, adding that the disease is very rarely found to be transmitted to humans.

According to him, the virus that infects animals is different from SARS-CoV-2, which causes COVID-19, which is transmitted by bats to humans, and is different from swine flu and bird flu.

“Regarding foot and mouth diseases, the virus is only present in animals with two claws so it is very rare that it transmits to humans,” the Minister remarked. (RF/JW/UN) (RI/EP)