Indonesia safe from Zika virus

Libertina Widyamurti Ambari Antara 15 Feb 16;

Jakarta (ANTARA News) - Indonesia is safe from the Zika virus, according to a statement by Indonesian Ambassador in Seoul, South Korea, John A. Prasetio received by ANTARA News here on Monday.

"Based on the confirmation received from the Indonesian Ministry of Health, there has been no case of Zika virus in Indonesia throughout this year," the ambassador noted.

The information from the ministry is in line with a report from the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, which excludes Indonesia from the list of countries and territories with active Zika virus transmission.

Earlier, certain Korean media had reported that a Zika virus case was found in Jambi in early 2015.

Ambassador Prasetio pointed out that it was incorrect to presume that the Zika virus had spread in Indonesia.

In fact, the Eijkman Institute for Molecular Biology and the Research Center of the Indonesian Ministry of Health had reaffirmed the absence of cases involving the Zika virus in 2016.

In the past few weeks, the Indonesian government has implemented several measures to prevent the entry of the virus into the country, such as by raising alertness at its health offices across all airports and seaports in Indonesia.
(Uu.KR-LWA/INE/KR-BSR/O001)