Jakarta (ANTARA) – The Ministry of Health recorded a cumulative total of 401,586 cases of Acute Respiratory Infections (ARI) in seven provinces and 63 districts/cities due to the impact of forest and land fires.
The ministry’s spokesperson, Widyawati, on Wednesday said the figure includes an additional 3,906 new cases based on monitoring data as of 4:00 p.m. on November 2, 2026.
She explained that vulnerable groups dominate the health monitoring records, including 91,913 cases in children aged 0-5 years, 87,704 cases in children aged 6-9 years, and 56,092 cases in the elderly group over 60 years.
The ministry is also closely monitoring the health of 590 pregnant women, 1,530 people with asthma, and 8,086 outdoor workers who are vulnerable to air pollution, Widyawati added.
“Demographically, the areas with the largest populations are Banjarbaru City (South Kalimantan), Pekanbaru (Riau), and Pontianak (West Kalimantan),” she outlined.
According to her, case dynamics in several regions showed fluctuations. However, Riau Province showed a spike in cases, peaking at around 23 cases in one day.
Meanwhile, West Kalimantan recorded a daily peak of six cases, while healthcare facilities in South Kalimantan reported between zero and four cases per day.
“Exposure to smoke and dust particles also causes eye irritation; therefore, the public is advised to avoid exposure to smoke and avoid rubbing their eyes if they feel sore or itchy,” Widyawati reminded.
Furthermore, her team was also ensuring oxygen supply readiness for patients with respiratory problems. In Riau, for example, 10 oxygen centers had been set up.
“Our concern is not just the availability of oxygen centers, but also ensuring that people who need oxygen support, particularly those with respiratory problems, can access it easily,” she noted.
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Translator: M. Riezko Bima, Resinta Sulistiyandari
Editor: Azis Kurmala
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