Inp.polri.go.id - Jakarta.  The Jakarta Health Services has intensified surveillance and improved its real-time reporting system to anticipate cases of acute respiratory infection  and pneumonia in children and adults following the reported pneumonia outbreak in China. Ngabila Salama, the Head of the Surveillance, Epidemiology and Immunization Department at the health agency, said on Sunday (3/12/2023) that real time monitoring was being carried out in all community health centres and 194 hospitals to detect potential outbreaks through laboratory tests. The heightened vigilance was important as the country transitions from the dry to the rainy season, when increased humidity increases the risk of viral infections due to weakened immunity, antaranews.com reported. "Human immunity tends to drop in such conditions, making people more susceptible to viruses, bacteria and fungi entering the body. We're anticipating a potential increase in pneumonia cases, including walking pneumonia, caused by various viruses, including COVID-19," she said. The central government has provided15 free vaccinations, including the pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV) to prevent pneumonia. Salama also highlighted the availability of full doses of COVID-19 for adults, influenza vaccines for vulnerable groups, and recommended good ventilation practices, especially indoors. As part of the government's preparedness, the Ministry of Health has issued a circular highlighting precautions against mycoplasma pneumonia incidents in Indonesia. The directive includes enhanced surveillance by the Port Health Office and increased vigilance at ports, airports and border posts. (mg/inp/pr/nm)