PONTIANAK, thekabarnews.com—Pontianak recorded a 5–10 percent increase in daily acute respiratory infection cases over the past week as haze from forest and land fires affected the West Kalimantan capital, the Pontianak Health Office (Dinkes Pontianak) reported.

Pontianak Health Office Head Saptiko announced the increase on Tuesday, August 25. He urged residents—particularly people at greater risk of complications—to reduce their exposure to polluted air.

“Based on the data, we recorded an increase in acute respiratory infection cases from last week to this week, with daily cases rising by approximately 5–10 percent,” Saptiko said, as quoted by ANTARA.

Dinkes Pontianak identified babies, young children, women in pregnancy, older residents and people with asthma or cardiovascular disease as particularly vulnerable. Saptiko advised them to limit outdoor activity when the smoke becomes dense.

Residents who must leave home should wear masks to reduce exposure to airborne particles, he added.

Saptiko cautioned that the increase coincided with the haze but did not prove that smoke caused every reported infection. Acute respiratory infections can result from viruses, bacteria and other environmental factors.

“We cannot distinguish whether an acute respiratory infection case was caused by smoke or something else. Many other factors can cause these infections. However, the data indicate an increase while the haze is present,” he said.

Dinkes Pontianak had not published a detailed breakdown of patients’ ages, diagnoses or treatment facilities when it announced the increase.

It also did not publish data comparing smoke exposure for each patient, so authorities could not establish a direct causal relationship at the individual level.

Saptiko said smoke could also trigger attacks among people with existing asthma.

“Usually, asthma cases increase because smoke can trigger an attack in people who already have asthma,” he said.

Pontianak authorities have placed community health centers and hospitals on alert and prepared oxygen for residents experiencing respiratory problems.

An earlier local report recorded 271 respiratory-infection visits to health facilities on August 18, compared with figures in the 160s on August 14 and 15, although those figures may use a different reporting period from the latest percentage estimate.

The city also introduced remote learning for kindergarten, elementary and junior-high students from August 24 as a health-protection measure. Schools may resume classroom teaching when air quality improves, according to the Pontianak administration official.

The World Health Organization identifies fine particulate matter (PM2.5) as the principal public-health threat in wildfire smoke.

These particles can penetrate deep into the lungs and enter the bloodstream, affecting the respiratory and cardiovascular systems.

Children, women in pregnancy, older adults and people with chronic illnesses face greater risks, according to the WHO’s wildfire guidance.

Residents should follow official air-quality updates, remain indoors when pollution is severe and seek medical assistance if they experience persistent coughing, breathing difficulty, chest pain or worsening asthma symptoms.