Jakarta, Jan. 7 -- The Health Ministry has begun administering measles vaccinations at several locations since Monday, January 5, to prevent the spread of the disease among displaced children.

"Of the transmissible diseases we are closely monitoring, measles is our main concern," Health Minister Budi Gunadi Sadikin said on Wednesday during a press conference with the National Disaster Mitigation Agency (BNPB).

He explained that measles has one of the highest transmission rates among infectious diseases. Therefore, the ministry has launched a targeted immunization program to protect children in disaster-affected areas. The risk of measles transmission has been identified in five districts, he added.

In addition, the ministry has detecte...