Indonesia is grappling with a worsening public health crisis as respiratory illnesses linked to widespread forest and land fires climb beyond 170,000 cases across several haze-affected regions.
Health ministry officials said 174,694 cases of acute respiratory infections were recorded between August and September 21 in seven provinces affected by smoke from the fires. More than 40,000 of those cases involved toddlers, highlighting the particular risk posed to young children.
The fires, which have swept parts of Borneo, Sumatra and Papua, have covered large areas of Indonesia in thick, hazardous smoke and also affected neighbouring Malaysia and Singapore.
Health officials say the haze contains fine pollutants such as PM2.5, microscopic particles capable of penetrating deep into the respiratory system and increasing the risk of respiratory illness.
The latest figures represent a sharp increase from the more than 113,000 cases recorded in the affected provinces as of September 9.
In response, Indonesia’s health authorities have deployed emergency supplies, including oxygen concentrators, oxygen canisters and face masks, to communities dealing with the worst conditions.
Residents have also been advised to limit outdoor activities whenever air quality deteriorates, wear protective masks and stay adequately hydrated.
Wildfires are a recurring problem in Indonesia during the dry season, which generally lasts from July through October. However, officials say this year’s fires have been particularly severe, with prolonged dry conditions contributing to the rapid spread of the blazes.
The situation is unfolding against the backdrop of a strong El Niño climate pattern, which has intensified heat and dryness across parts of the region and raised concerns over the continued spread of fires and hazardous haze.
