Indonesia records 283,270 respiratory infections as forest fire haze worsens

Indonesia has recorded 283,270 cases of acute respiratory infection linked to forest and land fires across seven affected provinces, including 63,711 cases among children aged five and below, as authorities monitor the health impact of smoke and haze spreading across the region.

The cumulative figures cover reports from August to 13 October, according to Then Suyanti, the Health Ministry's director of environmental health, who presented the data at a press conference on the government's response to forest and land fires on Wednesday, 14 October.

Of the total cases, 219,559 involved people aged above five, she said. A further 3,897 cases were reported on 13 October alone.

The figures represent an increase from the ministry's earlier report of 277,075 cumulative cases as of 12 October across 63 districts and municipalities in seven provinces. That report recorded 62,400 cases, or 22.5% of the total, among children aged zero to five.

Aji Muhawarman, head of the Health Ministry's Bureau of Public Communications and Information, said the ministry would continue monitoring reported cases to detect increases and strengthen health responses in areas affected by the fires.

South Kalimantan and South Sumatra record the highest totals

South Kalimantan recorded the highest number of respiratory infection cases, with 74,636, followed by South Sumatra with 74,458, according to figures presented by Then.

Smoke from forest and land fires contains fine particulate matter known as PM2.5, as well as carbon monoxide, nitrogen dioxide and toxic organic compounds, she said.

PM2.5 refers to airborne particles small enough to penetrate deep into the lungs. Exposure to smoke can trigger acute respiratory infections, coughing, shortness of breath, runny noses and sore throats. It can also aggravate asthma, trigger chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), and cause eye and skin irritation.

The effects may extend beyond the respiratory system to cardiovascular health, including increased risks of heart disease and stroke and elevated blood pressure, particularly among vulnerable groups.

“Of course, we must protect vulnerable groups, including children, older people, pregnant women, people with asthma or COPD, and outdoor workers,” Then said.

Aji similarly identified infants, young children, pregnant women, older people and people with chronic lung diseases as particularly vulnerable to smoke exposure.

Health ministry issues guidance on masks and warning signs

The Health Ministry has urged the public to reduce outdoor activities as air quality deteriorates and to take particular care of children showing signs of respiratory distress.

Aji also warned against using nebulisers without appropriate medical guidance, saying they should only be used when indicated and in accordance with instructions from healthcare professionals.

People who need to go outdoors when air quality is poor should wear properly fitted N95 or KN95 respirators to help filter fine particles, he said.

Where these respirators are unavailable, Aji said people could use medical masks or multiple layers of cloth masks to improve filtration.

As of 12 October, authorities had mobilised 2,106 medical and health personnel and distributed more than 2.8 million masks through various central and regional government channels, according to the earlier Health Ministry report.

Prabowo approves assistance from neighbouring countries

Indonesia’s President Prabowo Subianto has approved offers of foreign assistance to fight forest and land fires, Foreign Minister Arrmanatha Nasir said on Thursday, 15 October, as smoke continued to affect air quality across Southeast Asia.

The National Disaster Management Agency (BNPB) is handling technical discussions, although the countries whose offers have been accepted and the precise form of assistance remain unclear.

“The assistance that neighbouring countries wish to provide has already been discussed and is now being processed,” Arrmanatha said after a meeting with parliament’s Commission I in Jakarta, according to state news agency ANTARA.

Newly appointed BNPB chief Lieutenant General Kristomei Sianturi said the agency would assess Indonesia’s existing resources before determining which foreign assistance could be deployed. Indonesia had deployed 60,177 firefighting personnel from various agencies and volunteer groups as of 13 October, ANTARA reported.

Malaysia has offered one aircraft, three helicopters and 52 firefighting personnel, according to ANTARA, while Singapore has also offered assistance.

The approval follows criticism of the government’s earlier reluctance to accept foreign help and declare a national disaster. On 12 October, Coordinating Minister for Political and Security Affairs Dudung Abdurachman said Indonesia remained capable of handling the fires.

“Not yet, not yet. We are still capable of handling it,” he said, adding that foreign assistance had not been discussed at the meeting chaired by Prabowo.

The scope and timing of the newly approved assistance remain subject to technical and operational discussions.