Aisyah Amira Wakang, Jakarta – The Jakarta Health Agency's head of epidemiology and immunization surveillance department, Ngabila Salama, called on residents to be cautious of catching diseases during the transition from the dry season to the rainy season.
She warned that human immunity tends to drop during the transition period, making germs such as viruses, bacteria, fungi, and others easily penetrate to the human body due to the high humidity during the rainy season. Ngabila said there is currently an increasing trend of pneumonia cases, one of which is caused by viruses.
"The most common is Respiratory Syncytial Virus or RSV, influenza, COVID-19, adenovirus, rhinovirus, and parainfluenza," Ngabila said in a written statement on Sunday, Dec. 3, 2023.
To combat this, the Jakarta Health Agency thus improved the real-time individual reporting system, and all health centers and 194 hospitals are prepared to monitor conditions and detect new diseases in children and adults.
Ngabila explained that there are two ways to prevent contracting a disease. First, maintain a clean and healthy lifestyle, including wearing a face mask when in crowds, washing hands with soap and running water, maintaining ventilation, and avoiding cigarette smoke. Second, complete and routine immunizations.
Residents who experience symptoms of illness should immediately seek treatment at the nearest health facility. "COVID-19 antigen and PCR testing at the community health center is free for anyone with symptoms," Ngabila stressed.
Ngabila also said that doctors would ask patients who are indicated to be infected with germs to undergo multiplex PCR tests to detect several types of viruses and bacteria. She added that people with weak immune systems can be infected with two or more types of viruses.