Ilustrasi kebakaran hutan dan lahan. (Foto: Kemenhut via Bisnis.com)
JAKARTA — Indonesia’s Ministry of Health has recorded 401,586 cases of acute respiratory infection (ISPA) linked to forest and land fires (karhutla). The cases are spread across 63 regencies and cities in seven provinces — Riau, Jambi, South Sumatra, West Kalimantan, Central Kalimantan, South Kalimantan and East Kalimantan — including 3,906 new cases as of 16:00 Western Indonesia Time on 2 November 2026.
“The government fully understands the public’s concerns about the health impacts of the haze, especially for vulnerable groups,” ministry spokesperson Widyawati told a press conference at the National Disaster Management Agency (BNPB) in Jakarta on Wednesday, 4 November 2026, as quoted by Kontan.
The cumulative count has kept climbing since August. According to ministry data compiled by Periskop, cases stood at 113,336 on 9 September, rose to 283,270 on 13 October and 333,470 on 21 October, before passing 401,586 as of 2 November. The areas with the largest affected populations include Banjarbaru (South Kalimantan), Pekanbaru (Riau) and Pontianak (West Kalimantan).
Vulnerable Groups Dominate
- Toddlers (0–5 years): 91,913 cases
- Children aged 6–9: 87,704 cases
- Elderly (over 60): 56,092 cases
- Outdoor workers: 8,086 under special monitoring
- People with asthma: 1,530 under special monitoring
- Pregnant women: 590 under special monitoring
According to the ministry, trends vary by province. Cases are declining in Central Kalimantan, South Sumatra and Riau, while East Kalimantan is still seeing an increase and is under special attention. The Air Pollution Standard Index (ISPU) in West Kutai Regency read 164 for PM2.5 on the morning of 2 November, in the unhealthy range, Suara.com reported.
“The declining trend is a positive development, but we must not let our guard down. Pneumonia is a serious health problem that requires medical treatment, especially for vulnerable groups such as toddlers, the elderly and people with comorbidities,” Widyawati said. She added that “a decline in recorded cases does not mean the risk of smoke exposure has completely disappeared.”
Potential Health Losses in the Hundreds of Trillions
The economic toll is also heavy. A study by the Center of Economic and Law Studies (Celios) estimates this year’s haze-related health costs at Rp19.20 trillion counting only diagnosed ISPA patients. Including people with symptoms who have not sought care, the estimate jumps to Rp224.65 trillion: Rp167.62 trillion in direct treatment costs and Rp57.03 trillion in lost productive days, Bisnis.com reported.
By Celios’s estimates, North Sumatra, South Sulawesi and West Nusa Tenggara bear the heaviest burden because of their population density, even though the largest fire hotspots are in South Papua and West Kalimantan. Celios economist Nailul Huda urged the government to declare the fires a national disaster so recovery is not left solely to regional governments.
Advice for Residents
The ministry urges residents, especially in haze-affected villages, to always wear masks when outdoors and to maintain health and hygiene. Toddlers, the elderly, pregnant women and people with existing conditions who experience shortness of breath or a persistent cough should be taken to the nearest community health center (puskesmas) or health facility promptly.
Summarized from Kontan, Suara.com, Suara Surabaya, Headline.co.id, Periskop, Republika and Bisnis.com (in Indonesian).
