Respiratory problems climb past 170,000 cases in haze-hit Indonesia

JAKARTA (Sept 22): Over 170,000 respiratory cases have been recorded in regions affected by haze in Indonesia, according to a health ministry official. The country is struggling to control fires that caused the toxic smog, which has spread to parts of the archipelago and neighboring Malaysia and Singapore, causing air quality to plummet.

The smog contains pollutants like PM 2.5, which can lead to health risks such as respiratory infections. Health ministry official Then Suyanti reported 174,694 cases of acute respiratory infections between August and September 21 in haze-affected areas. Over 40,000 of these cases were in toddlers. The figure, reported in seven provinces across Indonesia, has increased from over 113,000 cases as of September 9.

The government has provided aid, including oxygen concentrators, face masks, and oxygen canisters to the affected regions. They advised the public to reduce outdoor activities, use masks, and stay hydrated when air quality worsens. Indonesia typically faces wildfires during the dry season, which runs from July to October, but this year's blazes are more intense due to a strong El Nino climate phenomenon and climate change.