inp.polri.go.id - Jakarta. The National Research and Innovation Agency (BRIN) says the Mpox virus varian Clade Ib is indicated to have faster infection and worse effect, especially to children.
“BRIN as the research organization agency has the responsibility in preventing epidemics in Indonesia. Continuous research continues to be conducted regarding epidemiology, transmission and vaccine research or new therapy on Mpox handling,” says Head of Health Research Organization of BRIN, Ni Luh Putu Indi Dharmayanti in her official statement on Wednesday (9/4/2024).
Indi explains that Mpox was affected by several clades, from clade Ia, clade Ib, and clade IIb. Clade Ia is related to cases on children and adults with heavier clinic manifestation.
Meanwhile, clade Ib and IIb mostly transmitted through intercourse activity. Tight screening is conducted following the findings of clade Ib carian outside Africa.
Indi explains that to prevent the increasing case of Mpox, the government has to act quickly by tightening health checks in state entrances and reactivating mobility monitoring through SATUSEHAT Health Pass application.
Previously, the government has reactivated the early detection system of infectious disease to prevent Mpox disease importation from abroad.
This move is taken by the government in response to the appearance of a new Mpox strain called Ib, which is known to be more fatal than its predecessors, IIb.
“The Ib strain has higher fatality than its predecessor. In Asia it is generally the IIb strain, while in Indonesia we have found this new strain. So it is concerning because this new varian fatality rate is nearing 10 percent than the late varian which is only 0.1 percent,” explains Indi.
The method of Electronic Surveillance Card such as the Pedulilindungi Application that has been previously used during the Covid-19 Pandemic has been reapplied. Every person from abroad will be required to scan the QR code that will record their travel history with yellow, green, or red notification.
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