“Poliovirus spreads through feces or defecation. It spreads from the behavior of open defecation or not (defecating) in a toilet,” the ministry’s spokesperson, Mohammad Syahril, stated during a health broadcast streamed online on Monday.
Syahril explained that Indonesia had been declared free from polio since 2014. However, the World Health Organization (WHO) reminded that all countries, including Indonesia, are not completely free from polio.
Several countries can still potentially witness the emergence of new polio cases due to the poliovirus infection originating from feces that are disposed of carelessly, such as in rivers and in the surrounding environment. These practices then make it easier for animals to carry the virus to stick to and contaminate children’s food.
“The virus will eventually spread, and this virus specifically attacks children, especially children who have not been vaccinated,” Syahril explained.
To this end, he highlighted the need for households to have toilets to prevent the spread of viruses.
Apart from open defecation, he noted that the COVID-19 pandemic had presented problems, as several parents fear bringing their children to health facilities to complete basic immunizations.
In fact, in accordance with recommendations from experts, scientifically, polio can be prevented through immunization. The pandemic has caused polio immunization coverage to decline and led to the emergence of new polio cases in Pidie, Aceh.
To this end, the government continues to educate the community on the importance of a clean lifestyle and complete basic immunizations for children while also conducting mass immunizations to tackle the polio outbreak.
According to Syahril, efforts to increase polio immunization are currently focused in Aceh Province due to the finding of new cases. Nevertheless, they are planned to be expanded to all regions in Indonesia.
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