15 January 2018

Islamic anti-vaxxers undermine efforts to prevent diphtheria outbreak in Indonesia

Indonesia's been hit by a diphtheria outbreak that's infected hundreds and killed 44 people.

Atikah cries as she talks about her son Faris, who was killed by diphtheria.

Now, a vaccination campaign against diphtheria in Indonesia is being undermined by alternative health practitioners and some hardline Muslim clerics who claim immunisations are un-Islamic.

One of their justifications is that vaccinations are developed using products from "haram" animals like pigs and dogs.

One of the leading anti-vax campaigners is Dewi Hestyawati, who calls herself a Holistic Islam Health Activist.

She says diseases like diphtheria and polio can be warded off and treated with diet and alternative therapies.

"The Prophet shows us that immunisation should come from the regular daily consumption of healthy substances : honey, herbs, olive oil; dates and goat's milk. If we don't follow that, we can be easily infected with diseases," she said. [ABC News Online] Read more