TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Indonesia, through its Minister of Health, confirmed that no Ebola cases have been detected in the country, but said the government remains vigilant in response to the WHO's international emergency declaration over the Ebola outbreak.
Aji Muhawarman, the ministry's head of Communication and Public Information Bureau, stated in Jakarta on Tuesday that the WHO's emergency status declaration demonstrates the need for global vigilance, despite the virus not yet being categorized as a pandemic.
This measure was taken due to cross-regional spread, the high mortality rate, and the ongoing uncertainty regarding the extent of the outbreak in Central Africa.
"The Ministry of Health continues to monitor the global situation and strengthen cross-sectoral vigilance. We are ensuring that all entry points, including ports and airports, ramp up surveillance of travelers, especially those from affected countries," Muhawarman said.
According to official data, he said, the outbreak in Ituri Province, DRC, was caused by the Bundibugyo strain of Ebola virus.
"As of May 16, 2026, there were 246 suspected cases, including 8 confirmed cases and 80 deaths, with a mortality rate of 32.5 percent," he said.
In addition to the Democratic Republic of Congo, he said, travel-related cases have also been reported in Kampala, Uganda, and Kinshasa due to high population mobility and limited health facilities in those regions.
Aji explained that concrete measures taken include deploying health workers in the field, strengthening traveler screening, and preparing referral procedures to international-standard hospitals if passengers exhibit symptoms suggestive of Ebola.
All reports from the country's entry points will also be integrated 24/7 through the Early Alert and Response System (ESRS) and the Public Health Emergency Operation Center (PHEOC).
"National laboratory capacity has also been fully alerted to support rapid detection and early response," he added.
Meanwhile, the Ministry of Health asked the public to remain calm and not be easily influenced by unverified information or hoaxes regarding Ebola circulating on social media. Education about this disease is considered crucial to ensure the public has a proper understanding.
"Ebola is a viral infection that can result in death, with an average fatality rate of up to 50 percent. Currently, there are three types of virus strains that frequently cause outbreaks: Ebola Virus Disease (EVD), Sudan Virus Disease (SVD), and Bundibugyo Virus Disease (BVD)," explained Aji.
Ebola virus transmission occurs through direct contact with blood, bodily fluids, or objects contaminated by infected humans or animals. The virus can enter the body through broken skin or mucous membranes.
Symptoms of the disease usually appear suddenly with an incubation period of 2 to 21 days. They include fever, weakness, muscle aches, headaches, which can then progress to vomiting, diarrhea, and bleeding. Currently, there is no specific treatment that is widely used, while available vaccines are still limited for handling outbreaks in Africa.
As a self-protection measure, the Ministry of Health urges the public to reinforce clean and healthy living behaviors.
Special advice is also issued for citizens who have recently returned from travel to affected countries such as the Democratic Republic of Congo and Uganda. They are asked to immediately seek medical attention at the nearest health facility if they experience symptoms of fever or bleeding within 21 days upon return.
Honesty about travel history is deemed crucial to help break the chain of transmission.
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