(Jakarta, 24th) The Ministry of Health pointed out that over the past 4 years, the number of malaria screenings in the Papua region surged by 337%, rising from 983,000 in 2021 to 4.3 million in 2025, indicating a significant strengthening of the local testing system.
On Tuesday, Achmad Muhaimin, Director of Communications and Public Information at the Ministry, stated that as screening volumes increased, the case detection rate also rose by 136%, from about 282,000 cases in 2021 to 667,000 cases in 2025.
He said that the rise in reported cases is not solely due to increased transmission, but because enhanced testing capacity allows infections previously undetected to be promptly diagnosed and treated.
Data shows that Papua's Annual Blood Examination Rate (ABER) has increased from about 22% in 2021 to around 74% in 2025, meaning more people are being tested and cases can be detected earlier. Meanwhile, the positivity rate fell from approximately 29% to about 16%.
In terms of epidemic trends, there were a total of 699,992 cases and 124 deaths reported nationwide in 2025. As of February 23, 2026, there have been 53,246 cases and 20 deaths so far this year.
Muhaimin emphasized that the government will continue to strengthen rapid diagnosis, standardized treatment, and vector control measures to reduce long-term transmission risks in Papua. This year, malaria screenings will also be gradually implemented in high-prevalence areas through the "Free Health Check" (CKG) program, depending on the local disease burden, medical preparedness, and diagnostic capacity.
He stated that nationwide, malaria elimination goals are progressing, with most districts and cities having achieved elimination results, but the disease burden remains highly concentrated in Papua, accounting for about 95% of the country’s cases, making it the "epicenter" of malaria in Indonesia. Currently, only 3 out of 42 districts or cities in Papua have achieved malaria elimination.
He added that currently, antimalarial drugs remain highly effective in Papua. Between 2024 and 2025, the Ministry of Health, working with the World Health Organization and partners, conducted efficacy studies of treatments. The results showed that the main drug dihydroartemisinin-piperaquine (DHP), as well as the alternatives artesunate-pyronaridine (ASPY) and artemether-lumefantrine (AL), all worked well, with no observed delayed parasite clearance or signs of drug resistance.
He said that the rise in reported cases is not solely due to increased transmission, but because enhanced testing capacity allows infections previously undetected to be promptly diagnosed and treated.
Data shows that Papua's Annual Blood Examination Rate (ABER) has increased from about 22% in 2021 to around 74% in 2025, meaning more people are being tested and cases can be detected earlier. Meanwhile, the positivity rate fell from approximately 29% to about 16%.
In terms of epidemic trends, there were a total of 699,992 cases and 124 deaths reported nationwide in 2025. As of February 23, 2026, there have been 53,246 cases and 20 deaths so far this year.
Muhaimin emphasized that the government will continue to strengthen rapid diagnosis, standardized treatment, and vector control measures to reduce long-term transmission risks in Papua. This year, malaria screenings will also be gradually implemented in high-prevalence areas through the "Free Health Check" (CKG) program, depending on the local disease burden, medical preparedness, and diagnostic capacity.
He stated that nationwide, malaria elimination goals are progressing, with most districts and cities having achieved elimination results, but the disease burden remains highly concentrated in Papua, accounting for about 95% of the country’s cases, making it the "epicenter" of malaria in Indonesia. Currently, only 3 out of 42 districts or cities in Papua have achieved malaria elimination.
He added that currently, antimalarial drugs remain highly effective in Papua. Between 2024 and 2025, the Ministry of Health, working with the World Health Organization and partners, conducted efficacy studies of treatments. The results showed that the main drug dihydroartemisinin-piperaquine (DHP), as well as the alternatives artesunate-pyronaridine (ASPY) and artemether-lumefantrine (AL), all worked well, with no observed delayed parasite clearance or signs of drug resistance.