Inp.polri.go.id - Jakarta. Minister of Health Budi Gunadi Sadikin has warned that measles poses a greater threat than COVID-19 due to its rapid transmission rate.
“If COVID-19 spreads from one person to two or three, measles can infect up to 18 people,” he said during an immunization drive in Sumenep, East Java, Thursday (28/8/2025), as reported by antaranews.com.
The ministry has launched a mass vaccination campaign targeting 80,000 children in the district, backed by 11,000 vaccine vials.
UNICEF has joined the response, investigating causes of the Extraordinary Event, locally known as KLB, declared after 2,035 measles cases and 17 deaths in Sumenep, mostly unvaccinated children.
“Every child, regardless of background, deserves protection from preventable diseases. No child should die from measles,” said Arie Rumantara, the UNICEF’s representative for Java.
Authorities are accelerating immunization, deploying village-level health workers, and planning a local laboratory to speed up diagnosis. With cases also reported in Pamekasan, Sampang, and Bangkalan, officials warn parents nationwide to ensure their children are vaccinated.
(mg/inp/pr/rs)
