Antara News·Indonesia·Thursday, October 22, 2026 at 02:16 PM UTC

Indonesia records 333,470 respiratory infections as fires persist

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M Riezko, Raka Adji

Jakarta (ANTARA) - The Indonesian Ministry of Health has recorded a cumulative 333,470 cases of acute respiratory infections (ARIs) linked to forest and land fires across several affected regions.

The ministry’s Director of Environmental Health, Then Suyanti, said in Jakarta on Thursday that daily cases remain high, with 4,522 new infections reported.

"Special attention is being focused on vulnerable groups, including children, older adults, pregnant women, people with asthma or COPD, and outdoor workers," she said.

She explained that based on the latest Air Pollutant Index, air quality in several areas has reached hazardous levels, particularly in six provinces prioritized in fire management: Riau, Jambi, South Sumatra, West Kalimantan, South Kalimantan, and Central Kalimantan.

Suyanti highlighted that exposure to wildfire smoke—which contains fine particulate matter such as PM2.5, carbon monoxide, nitrogen dioxide, and other organic compounds—can trigger various health issues.

These include ARIs, asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), eye and skin irritation, and systemic health impacts.

Comparing case trends to the previous year, the ministry noted an increase in ARIs in Central Kalimantan, South Kalimantan, South Sumatra, and Riau.

Meanwhile, West Kalimantan recorded a decrease in cases, East Kalimantan remained relatively stable, and Jambi showed a similar rate comparable to last year's.

To mitigate and manage these health risks, the ministry continues to step up preventive and health promotion efforts, including distributing face masks, educating the public on reducing health crisis risks, and monitoring indoor air quality alongside the health impacts on residential areas.

"The government is actively monitoring trends in fire-related illnesses, such as ARIs, pneumonia, asthma, and eye and skin irritation, while ensuring an adequate supply of medicines, medical consumables, and health equipment in affected regions," she emphasized.

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