EduAsiaNews, Jogyakarta – As the Eid homecoming period approaches, vigilance against infectious diseases has become a renewed concern. One of these is measles, which has seen a rise in cases in several regions, including the Special Region of Yogyakarta (DIY). Head of the Disease Prevention and Control Division at the DIY Health Office, Dr. Ari Kurniawati, reported that the trend of measles cases in Yogyakarta has increased in recent times. By the ninth week of 2026, 73 confirmed measles cases had been recorded, representing approximately 5.6 times the number reported during the same period last year. Most cases were found in children aged 2–9 years.
“Some cases also occurred in infants under nine months old who are too young to receive the vaccination,” Ari explained during the TropmedTalk online talk show titled “Rising Measles Cases Ahead of Homecoming: Should We Panic?”, organized by the Tropical Medicine Center (PKT) UGM on Tuesday (March 17).
Dr. Ida Safitri Laksanawati, Sp.A(K), a lecturer in the Department of Child Health at FK-KMK UGM, emphasized that this vulnerability affects not only children but also adults. The key factor lies in the completeness of the Measles and Rubella (MR) vaccine doses. According to her, although the coverage for the first MR dose in DIY is high, above 95%, coverage for the second dose remains at around 90%. This gap creates a vulnerability in herd immunity.
“This is an alarm for us. When MR2 coverage is not optimal, over the next five years, the antibody levels of vaccinated individuals will decline significantly,” asserted the pediatrician from RSUP Dr. Sardjito.
Dr. Ida stressed that the public should not respond with excessive panic but rather increase vigilance through careful preparation. She encouraged travelers to assess risks carefully before traveling. “Pay attention to where cases are spreading and who you will be traveling with. Particularly for high-risk family members, such as infants aged six months who have not yet received the measles vaccine. If travel is not essential, avoid crowded places,” she advised.
Meanwhile, Dr. Risalia Reni Arisanti, MPH, a lecturer in the Department of Biostatistics, Epidemiology, and Population Health at FK-KMK UGM, shared field findings indicating that transmission often occurs unnoticed within families. According to her observations, early symptoms of measles resemble other diseases, such as dengue fever, which often leads to delayed or inappropriate medical intervention.
As a precaution, she urged the public to be more alert. “Each of us is expected to act wisely. At the first sign of feeling unwell, the first step is to wear a mask and limit interactions to prevent further transmission,” she explained.
Author: Aldi Firmansyah
Editor: Gusti Grehenson
Photo: iStock
