November 20, 2025
PEKANBARU – An upper respiratory infection outbreak that has killed five children and sickened hundreds of members of the Talang Mamak Indigenous tribe in Indragiri Hulu regency, Riau is finally showing signs of easing, though health authorities say they will continue to monitor the situation closely.
Indragiri Hulu Health Agency head Sandra said cases have begun to decline after peaking on Oct. 29.
“So far, based on reports from health workers at the Batang Gansal Puskesmas [community health center], no new cases have been detected. Hopefully there will be no additional patients so we can focus on recovery efforts,” she said on Monday.
As of Oct. 14, a total of 222 residents of the Talang Mamak Indigenous community in Datai hamlet of Rantau Langsat village had suffered from upper respiratory infections, with five fatalities.
Most of the fatalities and severe cases involved children and infants.
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Seventeen members of the community have been evacuated from the hamlet, which is located deep within the forest of Bukit Tigapuluh National Park, for further treatment.
Five were transferred to Batang Gansal Puskesmas for outpatient care, while seven with more severe conditions were taken to the Indrasari Rengat Regional General Hospital.
Sandra said the condition of hospitalized patients continues to improve, with five already discharged, while all outpatients have also recovered.
“We are committed to monitoring the situation closely until the outbreak is fully over, and we will ensure that the community receives optimal protection from the risk of infectious diseases,” she said, as quoted by Kompas.id.
The Talang Mamak is part of the Proto-Malay ethnic group, also known as ancient or aboriginal Malays, and is among the few isolated indigenous tribes in Sumatra that maintain their traditional ways of life.
Datai hamlet is home to one of the largest Talang Mamak communities, though its exact population is not known.
The hamlet is located along the upper reaches of the Gansal River in Batang Gansal, roughly 280 kilometers from Riau’s provincial capital Pekanbaru and over 80 kilometers from the Indragiri Hulu regency capital of Rengat.
Reaching Datai hamlet is challenging. By land, the journey takes around five hours by motorcycle along a narrow, muddy trail through dense forest. By water, it takes two days navigating the Batang Gansal River to reach the nearest main road and then requires switching to land transportation.
The Indragiri Hulu administration cannot provide infrastructure, including healthcare facilities, to serve tribal members who live in the hamlet, as construction is prohibited in national parks.
Riau Health Agency acting head Heri Permana said laboratory analysis confirmed that the outbreak in Datai hamlet was caused by the Influenza A virus, one of the main types of flu that infect humans.
“The current surge in Influenza A cases is partly linked to the transition into the rainy season,” he said on Monday.
Lower temperatures and high humidity during the rainy season allow viruses to survive, replicate and spread more easily.
The Health Ministry has reported a nationwide rise in influenza-like illnesses caused by Influenza A in recent weeks, with cases increasing by 38 percent as of October. Similar trends have also been reported in neighboring countries including Malaysia, Singapore and Thailand.
According to the World Health Organization, Influenza A typically causes fever, dry cough and headache. While most patients recover within a week without medical care, the virus can lead to severe respiratory illness or death among high-risk groups such as the elderly and young children.
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In the Talang Mamak community, the outbreak was exacerbated by malnutrition, poor sanitation, limited hygiene practices and overcrowded housing that does not meet health standards, making residents more prone to severe symptoms, officials said.
The Riau Health Agency has sent nutritious food supplies, medicines and oxygen concentrators to the Talang Mamak community amid the outbreak. Health authorities are also continuing to educate residents on health protocols and personal hygiene practices, while conducting epidemiological investigations to trace the source of transmission.