Diarrhoeal diseases among refugees in Indonesia.

The influx of refugees from Vietnam had created some consequences especially in transmission of certain communicable diseases. During several months of their first arrival, most of illness (90%) were caused by upper respiratory tract infections, skin diseases and diarrhoeal diseases. Several efforts and measures had been done by the Government of Indonesia in collaboration with several agencies i.e. P3V, PMI, UNHCR, W.VI, etc. As a result of the activities, a reduction of diarrhoeal diseases, has been observed. There was no cholera or typhoid cases detected through routine surveillance activities or by special survey. If we examine the morbidity and mortality pattern of refugees or we are comparing with Indonesian figures, it can be concluded that diarrhoeal diseases is not a significant health problem among refugees in Indonesia.

Endemicity of cholera in Surabaya, Indonesia.

As the seventh pandemic of cholera is caused by V. cholerae biotype El Tor, the former criteria for endemicity of cholera need to be reconsidered as regards their applicability in areas that are infected with cholera. As the mortality rate of cholera nowadays can be reduced to a very low level due to modern methods of treatment, it is suggested that the infection rates of cholera should be taken into consideration as criteria of cholera endemicity, i.e. 1. Five years persistence of cholera cases in a given area. 2. Five percent infection rate among family contacts of cholera cases. 3. Minimum infection rate of 1% in a vicinity where cholera cases occur. It was also found that in such an endemic area it is very difficult to eliminate V. cholerae infection from a locality, even when all family contacts are treated with the full dose of tetracycline.