Myalgia Tops 3,101 Earthquake Health Visits in East Manggarai

Labuan Bajo — Health teams from West Nusa Tenggara had delivered 3,101 medical services to people affected by the earthquake in East Manggarai, East Nusa Tenggara, as of Aug. 24, with muscle pain, or myalgia, the most common complaint, according to Indonesian and local reporting.

West Nusa Tenggara Health Agency head Lalu Hamzi Fikri said 721 cases of myalgia were recorded, followed by dyspepsia at 593, acute respiratory infections at 327, hypertension at 239, general pain at 176 and dizziness at 167. Together, those six complaints accounted for most of the reported services.

The health response also included mobile teams, health posts and support for local clinics in affected areas. The Ministry of Health said in a separate report that it had sent reserve health workers to Manggarai Timur and other parts of East Nusa Tenggara to strengthen post-earthquake care.

What the figures show

The service tally appears to reflect consultations and treatments delivered during the emergency response, rather than a count of unique patients. The reported complaint profile suggests that responders were handling both injury-related needs and common illnesses that can become harder to manage after displacement.

In its coverage, IDN Times quoted Fikri as saying acute respiratory infections were also a concern and could worsen if conditions in shelters deteriorated. The health ministry separately said its teams were assigned to puskesmas and field hospitals in Manggarai Timur to support basic care and psychosocial services.

By the ministry’s account, reserve health workers were also deployed to other affected districts in Flores, including Manggarai, West Manggarai and Ngada, as authorities worked to restore services after the quake.

Broader response

Local and ministry reports said the post-quake response involved temporary and mobile care, with teams supporting local facilities that were strained by the disaster. The Ministry of Health said its reinforcements were meant to help maintain services for physical injuries, maternal care and mental health support.

The figures published on Aug. 24 show that the largest share of reported complaints in East Manggarai was muscle pain, a common after-effect of strenuous evacuation, shelter life and recovery work after disasters. The reported data do not break down how many people returned for repeat treatment or how many cases were linked to specific injuries.

Health officials continued to monitor conditions in shelters and affected communities as they expanded care. The ministry said later deployments were also aimed at strengthening psychosocial support for earthquake survivors across Flores.

Sources

• IDN Times
• Ministry of Health