Indonesia reports first health professional death amid measles outbreak

JAKARTA – A doctor in Cianjur, West Java, has died from measles, marking the first reported death of a health professional amid Indonesia’s recent outbreak.

Indonesia’s Health Ministry Acting Director General for Disease Control Andi Saguni said the 25-year-old doctor, identified only by his initials AMW, was an intern at Pagelaran Regional General Hospital. He died on March 26 after reportedly contracting the virus from a patient.

“AMW is suspected to have been exposed while treating a measles patient on March 8, but continued working despite developing a fever on March 18,” Mr Andi said during a virtual press briefing on March 30.

His condition worsened on March 21, when a rash began to spread across his body. On March 25, he was rushed to the emergency unit after experiencing a decline in consciousness.

AMW’s condition continued to deteriorate, and he was pronounced dead at 11.30am (12.30pm Singapore time) on March 26.

Laboratory results released on March 28 later confirmed he had tested positive for measles, with severe complications affecting his heart and brain.

Mr Andi said the Health Ministry is intensifying efforts to protect healthcare workers from measles following AMW’s death.

“With rising measles cases and increasing hospitalisations, medical personnel are among the highest-risk groups. Therefore, precautionary and protective measures must be strengthened across all healthcare facilities,” he said.

He added that the government is currently accelerating a clinical trial analysis to expand measles vaccination programs for adults, particularly healthcare workers.

“We are also requiring that hospitals maintain sufficient personal protective equipment for healthcare workers while managing workloads and ensuring adequate rest for those treating infectious diseases,” Mr Andi said.

The Health Ministry has also ordered hospitals and healthcare facilities to strengthen infection control measures including by implementing early screening and triage and establishing isolation rooms. Medical and healthcare workers are also being urged to strictly follow infection prevention protocols and to immediately report any measles symptoms they experience, as well as any suspected cases they encounter.

“Even the slightest symptom must be reported immediately. Take full rest and do not push yourself to continue working,” Mr Andi stressed.

Measles is one of the most contagious vaccine-preventable diseases, with a single case capable of infecting up to 18 others

According to Health Ministry data, as of March 22, the country had recorded 16,355 confirmed measles cases since the start of 2026, resulting in 10 deaths.

In 2025, Indonesia reported 63,769 suspected measles cases, including 11,094 confirmed infections and 69 deaths. Health authorities said the outbreak is largely driven by declining childhood immunisation coverage, which they attribute to the growing influence of anti-vaccine misinformation.

Coverage for the second dose of the measles-rubella (MR) vaccine fell from 86.6 per cent in 2023 to 82.3 per cent in 2024, and further to 77.6 per cent in 2025. This rate remains well below the World Health Organization’s standard of 95 per cent, which is needed to achieve herd immunity against measles.

In recent weeks, the government has carried out Outbreak Response Immunization (ORI) and Catch-Up Campaigns for measles-rubella (MR) in both affected and high-risk areas. The programs will be conducted across 102 districts and cities across the country, targeting children aged 9 months to 5 years old.

The Health Ministry’s Andi said the initiatives are starting to show positive results, with weekly confirmed measles cases dropping by 93 per cent since the first week of January.

“In week 12, there were 146 confirmed measles cases nationwide, down from 2,220 cases in the first week of January. This declining trend has been consistently observed across 14 provinces and 10 districts and cities,” he said. THE JAKARTA POST/ASIA NEWS NETWORK