Acute Respiratory Infections Lead 3,151 Post-Quake Illness Cases in West Manggarai

Labuan Bajo — Health officials have reported that acute respiratory infections are the leading illness among residents of West Manggarai affected by the August earthquake in East Nusa Tenggara, based on data collected at local health posts between 15 and 25 August 2026.

According to a report by Media Indonesia, citing the West Manggarai Health Office, health posts in the district recorded 3,151 illness cases in disaster-affected areas during that ten-day period. Acute respiratory infections (ISPA) accounted for the largest share, with 727 cases, or about 23.1 percent of the total.

Hypertension was the second most frequently diagnosed condition, with 601 cases, or about 19.1 percent. The data were compiled from health posts set up to serve communities affected by the magnitude 7.7 earthquake that struck Nusa Tenggara Timur on 15 August 2026, which impacted several districts including West Manggarai.

Reported disease breakdown in West Manggarai

The Media Indonesia report lists 15 monitored disease categories from health-post records in West Manggarai for 15–25 August 2026. Besides acute respiratory infections and hypertension, the reported case counts were:

• Myalgia (muscle pain): 275 cases
• Low back pain: 271 cases
• Obstetric and gynecological disorders: 189 cases
• Common cold: 187 cases
• Neurological and psychiatric disorders: 167 cases
• Wounds or injuries: 153 cases
• Dyspepsia: 140 cases
• Skin and soft-tissue diseases: 106 cases
• Musculoskeletal and trauma cases: 96 cases
• Diarrhea: 76 cases
• Diabetes mellitus: 55 cases
• Gastritis: 51 cases
• Dental and oral diseases: 37 cases

These figures sum to 3,131 cases, slightly below the total of 3,151 cited by the West Manggarai Health Office. The report does not explain the difference between the summed category counts and the stated total.

Health monitoring after the quake

Head of the West Manggarai Health Office, Theresia Asmon, said health monitoring is being carried out through posts established in disaster-affected areas, with acute respiratory infections emerging as the most common diagnosis among residents seeking treatment after the earthquake.

National-level data from the Ministry of Health show a similar pattern across Nusa Tenggara Timur. In a national briefing on 26 August 2026, the Ministry’s Crisis Center reported that acute respiratory infections were the most frequently reported illness among earthquake survivors between 15 and 25 August, with 9,668 ISPA cases recorded across seven affected districts, including West Manggarai.

According to that briefing, other major health problems reported across the province over the same period included hypertension (4,686 cases), myalgia (1,017), trauma-related conditions, diarrhea, gastritis, dyspepsia, diabetes, skin diseases and low back pain. These provincial-level figures indicate that the pattern seen in West Manggarai — dominated by respiratory infections and hypertension — is consistent with trends reported from other earthquake-affected districts.

Use of the data for local response

The West Manggarai Health Office has indicated that post-earthquake illness data are being used to guide health services and emergency response in the district, including staffing of health posts, provision of medicines, and ongoing surveillance for emerging health risks in evacuation areas.

National health authorities have also highlighted the need for continued monitoring of disease trends among displaced residents throughout Nusa Tenggara Timur during the post-earthquake emergency period, with particular attention to respiratory infections, skin diseases and diarrhea.

Sources

• Media Indonesia
• Liputan6 - Health section
• DetikHealth infographics
• InfoPublik (Ministry of Communication and Informatics)
• Media Indonesia via Metro TV News