Unpredictable Rainy Season, Public Urged to Be Alert for Chikungunya

Suspected chikungunya cases in Indonesia increased in early 2025 compared to the same period in 2023 and 2024. The Ministry of Health (Kemenkes) believes this trend warrants vigilance due to the unpredictable pattern of the rainy season.

"This is in line with the rainy season pattern in Indonesia, so we need to be vigilant," said Aji Muhawarman, Head of the Ministry of Health's Communication and Public Information Bureau, on Monday (August 11, 2025). He added that the trend of cases has indeed been declining in the past two months.

Kemenkes data shows that the provinces with the highest number of suspected cases are West Java, Central Java, East Java, North Sumatra, and Banten. The highest number is in West Java with 6,674 cases.

source image : alodokter.com

Public Health expert Dr. Jusuf Kristiyanto explained that the irregular rainy season creates numerous breeding grounds for mosquitoes. "Water supplies in gutters or used tires become breeding grounds for mosquito larvae that carry the virus," he said during a conversation with Pro 3 RRI on Monday (August 11, 2025).

He explained that chikungunya is caused by the bite of the Aedes aegypti and Aedes albopictus mosquitoes. Symptoms are similar to dengue fever (DHF), but joint pain is more prevalent in chikungunya.

"If the fever doesn't go down for three consecutive days, you should go to the hospital immediately," he said. He believes that a platelet count is important to differentiate it from DHF.

source image : rscitama.com

source image : enesis.com

Dr. Jusuf explained that efforts to prevent Chikungunya and Dengue Fever include maintaining environmental cleanliness. "Clean pots, animal drinking bowls, and drain bathtubs regularly," he said.

He emphasized that the virus is not transmitted directly between humans. "It's transmitted through mosquitoes, so the vector must be eradicated," he said.

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