Jakarta (ANTARA) - Indonesia's Ministry of Health is responding to the finding of six cases of Mycoplasma pneumoniae infections in Jakarta by conducting an epidemiological investigation to stop the spread in the community.
The ministry's Director General of Disease Prevention and Control Maxi Rein Rondonuwu stated at a virtual press conference here on Wednesday that two days ago, his ministry had received a report from the Jakarta Health Office regarding the cases.
"After we confirmed it, currently, there are six cases of Mycoplasma penumoniae (infections) that once have been treated because it (the disease) had existed before," he added.
According to Rondonuwu, the six cases of Mycoplasma pneumoniae infections in Jakarta were found in children aged three to 13 years.
Of those cases, five patients were reported by Medistra Hospital and one patient by the Jakarta Women and Children Clinic (JWCC).
The reported symptoms are similar to pneumonia in general, such as nasal discharge and shortness of breath, and generally, the symptoms begin with fever, cough, headache, and mild shortness of breath.
"For the incidence in Medistra Hospital, there are those that were hospitalized, with two hospitalized on October 12 and 25, and the others were (undergoing) outpatient (treatment) in November," he revealed.
Rondonuwu further explained that based on the laboratory test at Medistra Hospital, the patients were proven to be infected with Mycoplasma pneumoniae, and the Ministry of Health has cross-checked patients' samples in the government laboratory network that resulted in the same results.
He noted that based on the hospital's daily report, all patients have recovered. Nevertheless, as a follow-up to the cases, the Health Ministry is conducting an epidemiological investigation against the patients' close contacts.
"Our team is still digging up information about where they go to school. We are afraid it will spread at schools and where they live, which is where we are pursuing intervention because it is transmitted by droplets, which is very contagious," he stated.
Although the symptoms are generally mild, he appealed to the community to stay vigilant against Mycoplasma pneumoniae infections, which are currently increasing in China. One of the ways encouraged is leading a clean and healthy lifestyle.
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