BRIN Warns of Potential Plague Reemergence in Indonesia

RRI.CO.ID, Jakarta - The National Research and Innovation Agency (BRIN) has issued a public health warning regarding the potential reemergence of the plague (pes) in Indonesia. Despite the absence of human cases for over a decade, researchers emphasize that the disease may be in a "silent period", a phase where a pathogen goes undetected for a long duration while remaining dormant in the environment.

A researcher at BRIN’s Center for Public Health and Nutrition Research, Ristiyanto, explained on Monday, April 13, 2026, that the bacteria's primary vectors and reservoirs—specifically fleas and rats, continue to be identified in various enzootic regions across the country.

"The absence of cases does not mean the disease has disappeared entirely," he cautioned, as quoted by Antara.

The risk of reemergence is heavily influenced by environmental shifts and human activity, with researchers highlighting several key factors that drive this potential. Ecological disruption, such as deforestation and land-use changes, has significantly disrupted ecosystem balances and forced rodent habitats into closer proximity with human settlements.

Furthermore, climate impact plays a critical role as shifting weather patterns have contributed to an increase in flea populations, which act as the primary vectors for the Yersinia pestis bacteria. These risks are concentrated in a specific geographic focus, as several regions in Java, including Pasuruan, Boyolali, Sleman, and Bandung, remain classified as "focus areas" due to the persistent presence of the bacteria within local rodent populations.

To prevent a full-scale outbreak, BRIN researcher Muhammad Choirul Hidajat recommends a shift toward integrated surveillance. This approach involves simultaneous monitoring of humans, animal reservoirs, and insect vectors to catch early warning signs of the bacteria's movement.

Furthermore, health experts are calling for a revitalization of environmental sanitation and consistent monitoring of formerly endemic areas. By strengthening the "One Health" approach, which links human, animal, and environmental health, Indonesia aims to ensure that the current "silent period" does not transition into a public health crisis.

The phenomenon of the silent period suggests that while the plague is currently undetected in humans, the Yersinia pestis bacteria remains active within local wildlife. Because the habitat of rats is increasingly overlapping with residential areas due to urban expansion, the likelihood of transmission via flea bites has escalated.

In response, BRIN is advocating for integrated surveillance systems that act as an early detection network. By focusing on enzootic regions like Sleman, Yogyakarta and Bandung, West Java, authorities can implement preventative sanitation measures and monitor rodent populations to mitigate the risk before a human jump occurs. ***