
































Microsoft Word - 1. Fakhriansyah dan Kurniawati.docx


 
IHiS (Indonesian Historical Studies) 8 (2), 128-143 © 2024 | E-ISSN: 2579-4213  

Asian Flu Pandemic in Indonesia, 1957        | 128 

 
Received:  
July 4, 2022 
 
Revised:  
August 26, 2024 
 
Accepted:  
August 27, 2024 

Asian Flu Pandemic in Indonesia, 1957:  
Government and Public Response 

 
Muhammad Fakhriansyah*, Kurniawati 

History of Education Program, Faculty of Social Sciences, Universitas Negeri Jakarta 
Jl. R. Mangun Muka Raya No. 7, Jakarta Timur, DKI Jakarta, Indonesia, 13220 

 
*Corresponding Author: muhammadfakhriansyah_1403618026@mhs.unj.ac.id 

DOI: https://doi.org/10.14710/ihis.v8i2.15045 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Introduction 
Since SARS-COV 2 virus became pandemic, the discussion about the disease or plague 
in the past has emerged. Many people re-discuss the disease or plague problem in the 
past to compare it with the current situation. The discussion is from a medical and a 
social point of view, especially about the effect and phenomenon of pandemics 
(Purwanto, 2020). In the history of the pandemic, there have been two influenza 
pandemics that have plagued Indonesia. There were Spanish Flu 1918 and the Asian 
flu 1957.  

According to Sellwood (2009), Asian flu has been a global pandemic in Yunnan 
Province, China, since February 1957. Asian flu was the world’s second influenza 
pandemic after the 1918 Spanish Flu. The pandemic was caused by the H2N2 

Abstract 
 

This study aims to analyze the 1957 Asian Flu Pandemic in Indonesia, focusing on 
the government and public response. The 1957 Asian Flu Pandemic was the second 
pandemic in the world after the 1918 Spanish Flu Pandemic. The pandemic was 
caused by the H2N2 influenza virus and originated in China. From China, the virus 
spread to Hong Kong, Singapore, and the world, including Indonesia. The Asian 
flu was the first pandemic faced by the post-colonial government of the Republic 
of Indonesia. The pandemic occurred in Indonesia between May and August, with 
the number of sufferers reaching 202,469 people (according to the government). 
Using historical methods, this study shows that the existence of the Asian flu 
indirectly tested the government's work and readiness in dealing with a global 
pandemic. The Asian flu pandemic struck when the Indonesian government faced 
difficult problems after the War of Independence (1945-1949). This situation made 
it difficult for the government to act. Therefore, the policy of responding to the 
Asian flu seemed very careful and even slow. In addition, the lack of health sector 
services and infrastructure in various regions also interfered with handling the 
pandemic. This situation also caused poor coordination between the central and 
regional governments. As a result, the public became confused. People end up 
acting without direction, such as trying traditional medicine, spreading hoax news, 
violating quarantine rules, committing vaccination fraud, panic buying, and even 
performing various mystical rituals. 
 
Keywords: Asian flu Pandemic; History of Pandemic; History of Health. 



 
IHiS (Indonesian Historical Studies) 8 (2), 128-143 © 2024 | E-ISSN: 2579-4213  

Asian Flu Pandemic in Indonesia, 1957        | 129 

influenza-A virus. When the virus hits a human, there are symptoms like cough, fever, 
and complications like pneumonia or bronchitis. 

The emergence of Asian flu in Indonesia made it the first pandemic faced by the 
government of Indonesia. The emergence of the 1950 Asian flu also tested the readiness 
of the new government in facing a global pandemic. Moreover, in the 1950s, many 
problems confronted the government’s steps in dealing with the pandemic, including 
the emergence of political turmoil that strained central-regional relations; the bad 
economic situation; the high number of people suffering from folk diseases (leprosy, 
malaria, yaws, and tuberculosis); the lack of medical personnel accompanied by 
disparities between regions; the government still owns few curative services (hospitals 
and polyclinics); the absence of regulations related to epidemics that are appropriate 
for the times (Boediono, 2016; Leimena, 1954; Neelakantan, 2019; Ricklefs, 1999). 
Especially in those years, health became a means to realize the aims of a socialist 
society under the principles of Pancasila (Neelakantan, 2017).  

Despite having a crucial role, there are still rare historiographical records 
regarding Asian flu pandemic in Indonesia. In general, study related to the Asian flu 
pandemic is dominated by biological research and medicine, especially related to the 
epidemiological and genetsc patterns of the virus. However, there are studies that 
discuss this pandemic globally and slightly touch on its existence in Indonesia. For 
example, research conducted by Dehner (2012), Yoneyama & Krishnamoothy (2010), 
CSellwood (2009), Dunn (1958), and Payne (1966). 

Dehner (2012) discusses the history of Influenza in the world, including the Asian 
flu. Dehner (2012) also stated the major impact on people’s lives in several countries 
when this disease emerged. The important point of his research is the discussion of 
research and production of vaccinations as an intervention step to end the Asian flu 
pandemic. Meanwhile, Yoneyama and Khrishamoothy (2010) attempted to explain the 
emergence and spread of the Asian flu from a political perspective. He examined the 
relationship between the Cold War between the United States and the Soviet Union 
with the spread of the Asian flu throughout the world.  

Unlike other studies, Dunn (1958) and Payne (1956) touched slightly on 
Indonesia’s position in the dynamics of the spread of the Asian flu disease. Dunn 
(1958), in his paper “Pandemic Influenza 1957,” explained the spread of the Asian flu 
in the world as a whole, including the number of sufferers in various regions. He 
explained sequentially from the beginning of the virus's emergence to its fading, from 
month to month. Through this research, Dunn also revealed that cases in Indonesia 
according to his calculations reached six million cases. Payne (1958) discussed the 
spread of the virus worldwide, including visually presenting it on map media. Payne 
revealed that the global spread of the virus was divided into two waves. The first wave 
occurred in mid-57, and the second wave occurred in early 1958. From here, the death 
rate in several areas was also revealed, along with the causes and treatment.  

The only study on the Asian flu in Indonesia, written by an Indonesian 
researcher, was the book National Health History of Indonesia Volume 2 (1980), 
published by the Ministry of Health. In addition to discussing health problems in 



 
IHiS (Indonesian Historical Studies) 8 (2), 128-143 © 2024 | E-ISSN: 2579-4213  

Asian Flu Pandemic in Indonesia, 1957        | 130 

Indonesia during the period 1950-1959, one part of the book addressed the impact of 
the emergence of the 1957 global influenza outbreak in the world on the deaths of 
Indonesian Hajj pilgrims in Mecca. Therefore, this study fills the gap by tracing the 
spread of the Asian flu pandemic in Indonesia and answering the questions: 1) What 
was the central government’s (Ministry of Health) policy for tackling the Asian flu 
pandemic in 1957? 2) How did the public react to the existence of a pandemic? 

 
Method 
This study uses historical methods and structural approach to explain the history of 
pandemic influenza 1957 in Indonesia. According to Kuntowijoyo (2013) there are 5 
historical method, including pemilihan topik, heuristic, verification, interpretation, 
and historiography. Data collection involved searching, discovering, and gathering 
information from the National Library of Indonesia (PNRI) and focused on reporting 
on government and private national newspapers and magazines. All newspapers or 
magazines include: Kantor Berita Antara, Dunia Wanita, Djembatan, Indonesia Raja, 
Kedaulatan Rakjat, Merdeka, Pikiran Rakjat, Suara Merdeka, Sinpo, Starweekly, and 
Waspada. This research uses secondary sources, including journals and books related 
to national health conditions in the 1950s.  
 
Tracing the Origin of Asian Flu in The World 
Asian flu in the world came from Yunnan Province, China, in February 1957 (Dunn, 
1958; Payne, 1958; Sellwood, 2009). In China, at that time, there was an increase in 
influenza cases, causing community and public activity. Nevertheless, the worst 
medical situation in China was unknown. According to Ying (2018), there are no 
reports regarding the deteriorating health situation because China did not join the 
WHO. The absence of the WHO makes China view the report as having no particular 
urgency. This information is necessary to prepare the world to face the threat of an 
influenza outbreak that has the potential to spread all over the world. 

The world’s attention to the influenza virus started two months later. On 17 April 
1957, the New York Times reported that in Hong Kong, there had been an increase in 
the number of people with influenza since 12 April (Offit, 2008). The symptoms they 
experienced included high fever, headache, muscle pain, and difficulty breathing. 10% 
or 250 thousand people out of two million experienced these symptoms. The 
emergence of this disease does not discriminate and can attack people of all ages and 
professions. As a result, the situation in Hong Kong at that time was chaotic. Almost 
every day, 10-20 thousand people were forced to queue to get treatment at the hospital. 
However, the world did not expect the incident in Hong Kong to be caused by a new 
variant of the virus, which later became a global pandemic. Experts suspect that the 
outbreak in Hong Kong is just a seasonal flu that people suffer from. 

This view changed when similar conditions occurred in Singapore, Taiwan, and 
Japan at the end of April 1957 (Han, 2022). Due to this situation, at the beginning of 
May 1957, Singapore Laboratory and the United States Army Laboratory in Japan 
started research on the genetic influenza virus. After a week of research, the 



 
IHiS (Indonesian Historical Studies) 8 (2), 128-143 © 2024 | E-ISSN: 2579-4213  

Asian Flu Pandemic in Indonesia, 1957        | 131 

researchers discovered a new type of influenza virus, namely a derivative of influenza 
virus (Payne, 1958). It was also reinforced by three leading research institutions in the 
world, such as World Influenza Center (London), the Institute for Medical Research 
(Melbourne), and the Walter Reed Army (Washington). All laboratories said the virus 
was a new variant because it was genetically modified and had never been found or 
had no match with existing influenza viruses. However, virologists did not 
understand the different genetic mechanisms behind the emergence of the new 
variant, so the exact origin of the new virus was not known (Honigsbaum, 2020). 
Contemporary research revealed that Asian flu originated from a genetic mixture of 
avian influenza virus (derived from poultry) and human influenza virus type H1N1, 
which was genetically referred to as type H2N2 (McMillen, 2016; Sellwood, 2009; 
Viboud et al., 2015). Because the spread of the virus originated in Asia, the word ‘Asia’ 
was attached after the word ‘flu’ became ‘Asian flu’—the term for the influenza 
pandemic of 1957-1958. 

This discovery was disseminated worldwide on 23 May 1957 by WHO, which 
announced that a new type of influenza outbreak would soon spread globally. 
However, the WHO’s action was too late. The influenza virus has already spread 
worldwide, and many countries are not ready to deal with it. The delay was also 
caused by China not reporting the situation described earlier. If China announced in 
February that it had an influenza virus there, perhaps the world would have been a 
little more prepared. 

 
The Emergence of the Asian Flu Pandemic in Indonesia 
The news of Singaporeans and Malayans infected by the new influenza virus caught 
the attention of national media in Indonesia. On a national scale, the newspaper has 
been busy reporting the conditions in Singapore and Malaya. For example, Harian 
Merdeka (1957) reported that in Malaya, 12 thousand people had been infected with 
influenza, and dozens of them died on 14 May 1957. In Kuala Lumpur, the spread of 
the virus forced many schools to close their operations because many students caught 
the flu. The influenza virus only took four days to infect the entire region, which has 
57 thousand inhabitants in Malaya—those who are stricken experience extreme cold 
or chills.  

However, the existing news got less attention from the Indonesian government. 
There was no statement from central government officials regarding the influenza 
outbreak in several Southeast Asian countries, especially from the Ministry of Health. 
In addition, the central government has issued no preventive policies regarding 
influenza. That was a fatal error. Indonesia had the potential to be the following 
country affected by the virus attack because it had open transportation access and was 
located close to the infected country. If the government releases information about the 
influenza outbreak, the public will increase vigilance. 

The Asian flu pandemic was detected in Indonesia in early May 1957, in Medan, 
North Sumatra (“Rakjat dan penjakit,” 1957). Geographically, Medan is close to the 
affected areas (Malaysia and Singapore) and is a meeting point for ships from within 



 
IHiS (Indonesian Historical Studies) 8 (2), 128-143 © 2024 | E-ISSN: 2579-4213  

Asian Flu Pandemic in Indonesia, 1957        | 132 

and outside the country. According to the Women's World report, the initial traces of 
the Asian flu were seen in thousands of people who came to hospitals or clinics with 
complaints of flu that were different from usual (“Rakjat dan penjakit,” 1957). They 
complain of similar symptoms: unstable body temperature (hot and cold), high fever, 
severe headache, bone pain, fatigue, vomiting, abdominal pain, diarrhoea, hoarseness, 
and coughing. Conditions persisted for the next few days. The Medan City People's 
Health Service (Dinas Kesehatan Rakjat Kota Medan) noted that 30% of patients with 
influenza complaints went to the Medan General Hospital (Rumah Sakit Umum, RSU) 
on 16 May 1957. Unfortunately, the health department did not take the increasing 
number of influenza cases in Medan seriously. The Department of Health has covered 
this information and made the media unaware of the increase in influenza cases in 
Medan. 

The situation changed four days later. On 20 May 1957, cases of Asian flu 
increased dramatically. It was recorded that five thousand of the total 400 thousand 
residents of Medan were stricken with influenza (“1/5 penduduk Medan terserang 
influenza,” 1957). General hospitals, government, and private polyclinics get many 
visits from patients with influenza complaints. In General Hospital, 70% of patients 
are influenza sufferers. Doctors were confused about diagnosing this complaint 
because it differs from general influenza, commonly called pilek. Due to many patients, 
few doctors in various clinics expressed their inability to care for people who sought 
treatment (“1/5 penduduk Medan terserang influenza,” 1957). The doctors were forced 
to work almost a full day with only one hour of rest time because they had to serve 
many influenza patients. For example, in the testimony of doctor Tan Tik Hong to 
Waspada, the number of visitors who lined up for treatment at his clinic from 08.00-
09.30 reached 92 people. It continued to increase in visits until the evening. This 
condition is different from the usual conditions when the patient’s presence can be 
counted on the fingers within 1.5 hours. In addition, doctor Chen Tsen Tshui, a 
different clinic owner, also said that the patients who came to his place were “too 
many” (“Keliwat banjak”). Therefore, Dr. Tshui urges the public to take care of their 
health and not travel if they are sick. The aim is to reduce the rate of spread of the virus 
while reducing the burden on medical personnel (“1/5 penduduk Medan terserang 
influenza,” 1957). 

In that situation, doctors at Medan Regional Hospital held a meeting to plan 
preventive measures to prevent the spread of Asian flu. However, the Medan City 
Health Department was still not too concerned. The Health Department did not take 
preventive measures because, according to them, there was no worrying news about 
the flu. The Health Department's attitude was undoubtedly deplorable because it 
tended to trivialize the existence of the disease. The virus was already rampant in 
society: patients crowded hospitals, and public places became deserted because of the 
many sick people (“Penjakit III,” 1957; “Semua sekolah di Kotapradja Medan ditutup,” 
1957). 

The news of the influenza outbreak in Medan became the national spotlight. 
Many media are reporting on the worst situation there. They all reported that in the 



 
IHiS (Indonesian Historical Studies) 8 (2), 128-143 © 2024 | E-ISSN: 2579-4213  

Asian Flu Pandemic in Indonesia, 1957        | 133 

capital city of North Sumatra, there was an anomaly of the influenza virus, which 
made the health situation there chaotic. However, other news was conveyed by the 
Kantor Berita Antara, the state-owned media. Antara wanted to straighten out the 
narrative of the current information by making a different report entitled: “North 
Sumatra has not yet had an Influenza Outbreak.” (“Di Sumatera Utara belum terdapat 
wabah influenza,” 1957). In this edition, Antara interviewed dr. I. Made Bagiastra, 
Head of Inspection of the Health Service of North Sumatra Province (Inspeksi 
Kesehatan Provinsi Sumatera Utara) on 21 May 1957. Dr. Made denied reports that 
North Sumatra was being attacked by an influenza epidemic that had infected 50% of 
Medan’s population. However, he also does not deny that influenza cases in his area 
have increased, which can be proven empirically in the number of visits by patients 
who seek treatment but have not yet entered the epidemic category. This wis due to 
the unstable weather in Medan, which is sometimes hot and rainy, so the population’s 
immunity decreases, and they can easily catch influenza. In his view, “people should 
never go to the house of someone who has the flu, do not go out a lot at night, and do 
not let the rain fall.” 

As a government representative, the Antara news report can be seen as a step to 
streamline information to calm the public to avoid excessive panic caused by 
influenza. However, the report also caused a controversy because it was different from 
the facts on the ground and seemed to cover up the actual situation in the community. 
This attitude can undoubtedly eliminate the public’s readiness to face a pandemic 
threat. Transparency of information is essential in this situation, considering that many 
Indonesians are unfamiliar with influenza outbreaks. 
 
Government’s Policy: Cautious and Slow 
The large flow of human movement through various modes of transportation and the 
opening of borders which allows people to come from infected countries has made the 
Asian flu spread rapidly in Indonesia. It took only one month from the first case, in the 
last week of April 1957, to infect thousands of people in Java, Sulawesi, Kalimantan, 
and the Maluku Islands. (“Djuga di Makassar influenza mulai berdjangkit,” 1957; 
"Influenza menjerang Kota Ambon dan sekitarnya,” 1957; “Wabah influenza di 
Bandung,” 1957). After that, all cities affected by the Asian flu experienced similar 
conditions: thousands of residents fell ill; public places were deserted and even closed 
by the government; and hospitals, clinics, and pharmacies were crowded. 

According to Neelakantan (2019), health affairs are the region’s responsibility in 
Indonesia. The Ministry of Health only formulates policy guidelines. Therefore, in the 
context of a pandemic, the main focus of handling the pandemic is on the Ministry of 
Health. The Ministry of Health is at the forefront of handling the pandemic. However, 
since the virus was an outbreak in Indonesia (May 1957), there was no preventive or 
curative action from the central government. This omission makes many local 
governments confused because they have to determine policies without the direction 
of the central government to deal with this new emerging disease. For example, since 
the virus became an outbreak, the government of Medan made a policy to lockdown 



 
IHiS (Indonesian Historical Studies) 8 (2), 128-143 © 2024 | E-ISSN: 2579-4213  

Asian Flu Pandemic in Indonesia, 1957        | 134 

their city. This policy was made because the government did not know how to 
overcome the pandemic. 

On 26 May 1957, the Minister of Health, dr. Azis Ali appeared in the media for 
the first time to discuss the Asian flu. He said that the Asian flu was not dangerous 
and no more dangerous than endemic diseases such as malaria, tuberculosis, and 
leprosy (“Menteri Kesehatan Dr. Azis: Penduduk tidak perlu chawatir dan takut akan 
wabah influenza,” 1957). A similar statement regarding this was also conveyed by dr. 
Makmoen, Head of the Center for Epidemiology of the Ministry of Health. Dr. 
Makmoen was a government envoy tasked with investigating the influenza virus in 
Singapore. After returning from Singapore, he said that the Asian flu is not dangerous 
(“Djangan gelisah,” 1957). However, this statement is not following the conditions in 
the field. After a week of the Asian flu infecting Indonesia, and after dr. Aziz and dr. 
Makmoen statement, terrible news about the pandemic continues to emerge. The 
number of patients continues to increase. There have been cases of death (“135 orang 
meninggal di Kota Medan", 1957). These numbers are not just a matter of statistics. 
Many people, especially children, suffer from the Asian flu. They can also not run the 
economy and other activities due to their illness. 

The Indonesian government, through its elite officials, particularly at the 
Ministry of Health, repeatedly conveyed recommendations to the public, which were 
disseminated by the media crew. During the outbreak, three officials on behalf of the 
government delivered statements at different times, including dr. Makmoen (Head of 
Epidemiology, Ministry of Health, 28 May 1957), dr. Johannes Leimena (Vice Prime 
Minister, 5 June 1957) and dr. R. Pingardi (Secretary-General of the Ministry of Health, 
June 8 1957). The three of them conveyed similar things in general terms, including 1) 
a new type of influenza virus caused the outbreak; 2) a virus is harmless if it has no 
complications; 3) there is no need to carry out regional quarantine and closure of public 
places; 4) Do not panic; 5) and it is crucial to maintain the health of each individual 
(“Djangan gelisah,” 1957; “Dr. Maamoen: Influenza tidak berbahaja,” 1957) 

In dealing with the existence of a pandemic, the central government is in a 
dilemmatic position. They want to suppress the spread of disease. However, on the 
other hand, they want to let the economy of a newly recovering country be disrupted 
due to the implementation of regional quarantine under Staatsblad 1911 No. 277 on the 
Quarantine Ordonantie Staatsblad 1911 No. 299 on the Epidemie Ordonantie. At that 
time, the epidemic’s rules referred to Dutch Colonialism rule, Staatsblad 1911 No. 277 
on the Quarantine Ordonantie and Staatsblad 1911 No. 299 on the Epidemie 
Ordonantie. The critical point in the two rules is holding a quarantine in case of an 
outbreak. As a result, the government chose a bold step: allowing the disease to spread 
widely and focusing on treating patients (“Influenza menjerang Indonesia,” 1957). The 
research report that revealed that the H2N2 influenza virus is not dangerous has 
become a reference for the Ministry of Health in handling the pandemic. The main 
focus is treating the patient’s symptoms (curative), not stopping the spread of the virus 
(preventive). The Ministry of Health believes that preventive policies such as 
quarantine are futile because they are proven not to contain the spread of the virus. 



 
IHiS (Indonesian Historical Studies) 8 (2), 128-143 © 2024 | E-ISSN: 2579-4213  

Asian Flu Pandemic in Indonesia, 1957        | 135 

Medan is an example of this view.  
Medan is the first city to hold a regional quarantine since the emergence of the 

Asian flu. On May 21, dr. Bagiastra, the head of the Medan City Health Department, 
decided to close school operations and public facilities (cinemas, performance venues, 
and swimming pools) for up to one week, from 23-30 May 1957 (“Semua sekolah di 
Kotapradja medan ditutup,” 1957). The spread of influenza could be stopped. This 
decision was made because Medan’s health condition worsened after five thousand 
residents of Medan, or 1.2% of the population, contracted the Asian flu. At that time, 
many students could not attend school because of illness. As a result, clinic visitors 
were increasingly booming; doctors were overloaded, and markets and offices were 
quiet visitors. However, the quarantine result states the spread of the virus was getting 
out of control and has even claimed lives. Therefore, the government has no intention 
of implementing a regional quarantine. 

However, curative policies also tend to be late and slow. The main obstacles are 
drug delivery delays, the disparity in the number of doctors between regions, and the 
lack of government hospitals and polyclinics. However, the Ministry of Health seems 
to have failed to understand that the number of sufferers is not a matter of statistics 
alone. Behind it, there is a process of very severe pain that every sufferer, young or 
adult, has to deal with from day to day, which then results in the cessation of daily 
activities. 

In response to this view, the government refused to hold the Asian flu 
vaccination. On 8 June 1957, WHO stated that an anti-influenza vaccine would be 
available by the end of July (“Vaccine anti-flu,” 1957). However, the government stated 
that in Indonesia, the Asian flu vaccination is not available (“Dr. Makmoen 
Soeriadilaga,” 1957). He said the vaccination process would be useless if not 
implemented. By calculation, for the Asian flu to disappear, 70% of Indonesia’s 80 
million population, or 56 million people, must be vaccinated. 

Moreover, to realize vaccination, Indonesia must have 56 million vaccine doses 
available if one person takes a 1cc dose with an effectiveness of 6 months. The problem 
is that there is not a single pharmaceutical factory in Indonesia capable of producing 
that many vaccines in such a short time. Even if the production was successful, there 
were problems regarding cost, distribution, and personnel. The government also 
forced the community resistance. Moreover, this impacts the length of time for 
vaccination. It could be months or even years—which does not match the urgency of 
a vaccine that must be implemented quickly. On this basis, the government did not 
undertake to carry out vaccinations. Moreover, the government also focuses on 
eradicating malaria, bubonic plague, tuberculosis, and leprosy through vaccines. It is 
more focused on vaccinating these diseases than the Asian flu. 

On June 12, 1957, as reported by Sinpo, the Directorate of Pharmacy, Ministry of 
Health, had sent influenza medicines to all drug depots in the regions, including 
Bandung, Semarang, Jogjakarta, Surabaya, Padang, Medan, Banjarmasin, Makassar, 
and Ambon—which was later distributed to nearby towns (“Obat2 influenza dikirim 
ke seluruh Indonesia,” 1957). The drugs sent included sulfadiazine tablets, acetose, 



 
IHiS (Indonesian Historical Studies) 8 (2), 128-143 © 2024 | E-ISSN: 2579-4213  

Asian Flu Pandemic in Indonesia, 1957        | 136 

Pacheco, sulfaguanidin, acid salicylamide, codeine, vitamin C, and multivitamins 
(“Obat Influenza kedaerah2,” 1957). The drugs were sent by trains and airplanes. Even 
though it is late because the epidemic is quite severe, this policy must also be 
appreciated as a state concern. In addition, the People’s Food Institute (Lembaga 
Makanan Rakjat, LMR), led by Poorwo Soedarmo, also conveyed ways to avoid 
influenza. People must consume food according to “4 Sehat, 5 Sempurna,” with the 
following composition: 1) a plate of rice; 2) a bowl of vegetables; 3) a piece of meat and 
tempeh; 4) fruits. LMR claims that if the public fills the portion of food, their health 
will be protected from various diseases, including Asian flu (“Apa jang kita harus 
lakukan kalau wabah influenza mengamuk,” 1957). LMR also urges that the 
consumption of vitamin C must be accompanied by nutritious food. 
 
The Public Response 
The government’s main focus in tackling influenza outbreaks is treating the sufferer’s 
symptoms (curative), not stopping the spread of the virus (preventive). The Central 
Government believes that preventive policies such as quarantine are futile because 
they have not been shown to contain the spread of the virus. However, the central 
government is different from the local government. Many local governments issue 
preventive policies, such as closing places of potential epicenters of the virus. In 
addition, the direction of the central government to focus on curative actions often 
does not go well. Outside Java or other remote areas, it appears that the handling of 
the outbreak is not optimal. The cause is due to inadequate health facilities and 
infrastructure. The most common cases are the shortage of medical personnel, the 
scarcity of medicines, and the high cost of health care. In addition, the local 
government was quite distraught about dealing with the Asian flu pandemic. 

This difference indicates a failure of coordination between the central and local 
governments. Moreover, in the 1950s, the political situation between the center and the 
regions experienced tension, resulting in a lack of coordination between the Ministry 
of Health and local governments, which led to the obstruction of health policies 
(Neelakantan, 2019). Poor coordination related to efforts to overcome this influenza 
pandemic has confused the Indonesian people. As a result, they are trying to deal with 
the plague in their way, from using traditional medicine to acting according to beliefs 
and customs. In addition, these failures also impact the emergence of incorrect 
information. Some people are looking for profits amid a tense pandemic atmosphere. 

 
Panic-Buying 
The public response when news of the pandemic spread was panic buying. The lack 
of information from the government caused the public to panic and buy vitamin C, 
anti-influenza drugs, and fruits in large quantities. This response made medicines and 
food ingredients scarce. Their prices also skyrocketed. All the goods purchased were 
not proven effective in preventing Asian flu. For example, when the Asian flu 
appeared on 28 May 1957 in Palembang, people flocked to pharmacies throughout the 
city to buy vitamin C ("Sekitar influenza," 1957e). As a result, the supply of vitamin C 



 
IHiS (Indonesian Historical Studies) 8 (2), 128-143 © 2024 | E-ISSN: 2579-4213  

Asian Flu Pandemic in Indonesia, 1957        | 137 

in all pharmacies was sold out. In addition, people also scrambled to buy oranges. 
Antara correspondents suspect that some people took advantage of the situation by 
hoarding goods to sell at high prices. In Banjarmasin, for example, fruits containing 
vitamin C were rushed and sold out in the market, so they became rare and expensive. 
The price of oranges also skyrocketed. The price of large oranges, for example, became 
IDR 30 per 10 pieces, from previously only IDR. 15 per 10 pieces ("Influenza naikkan 
harga buah-buahan," 1957). 
 
Hoax and Criminal Acts 
In Jakarta, 1 June 1957, Starweekly also reported the presence of "tukang tjatut" 
(kleptomania) in several drug stores and grocery stores ("Varia influenza," 1957). The 
people bought large quantities of vitamin C, quinine pills, and influenza tablets. In 
their actions, they claimed to be government officials so that they could freely order 
employees to carry out all drug procurement. They argued that the drugs would be 
distributed freely to the public. They lied and intended to resell them at high prices. 
The drugs eventually became increasingly scarce, their prices soared, and they made 
huge profits after reselling them. 

On 5 June 1957, Sinpo reported the disgraceful actions of unscrupulous persons 
against the residents in several Jakarta villages (“Djumlah korban lebih besar di 
kampung2,” 1957). At that time, the village became a fertile place for the spread of 
influenza. This is because the environmental conditions are dirty, and the population 
is far from healthy (Lubis, 2008). This lousy situation attracted the attention of 
individuals who claimed to be government employees and doctors assigned to 
eradicate the plague. They asked for a fee of Rp1 to Rp4 to spray and inject anti-
influenza drugs. However, people complained that their bodies were itching and their 
hands were swollen after taking action. Then, the person immediately disappeared. 
Regarding this case, Sinpo said, “keadaan di desa2 lebih lagi mengenaskan. Bukan sadja 
mereka kena penyakit pilek, demam, dan kepala pusing, alias influenza, tetapi di beberapa desa 
mereka juga kena tjatut [The situation in the villages is even direr. They get colds, fevers, 
and headaches, aka influenza, but in some villages, they were lied to]”. 
 
Traditional Medicine  
During the Asian flu, Indonesian people used traditional medicine. According to 
Susan Jane-Beers (2001), the tradition of traditional medicine in the post-independence 
era was common. Indonesian President Sukarno wanted his nation and society to be 
independent. On that basis, people tried to treat diseases based on traditional medicine 
methods by utilizing their natural resources. Moreover, modern medicines were 
challenging to obtain at that time. 

On 17 June 1957, Suara Merdeka published the method and testimony of a 
survivor named Wiardjo, who recovered from influenza (“Labu Ut Obat Influenza,” 
1957). Wiardjo survived the 1918 Spanish flu and the 1957 Asian flu. He recommended 
that people consume pumpkin as a cure for influenza. In 1918, when the Spanish flu 
infected his entire family, he drank a pumpkin concoction and survived. Then, he 



 
IHiS (Indonesian Historical Studies) 8 (2), 128-143 © 2024 | E-ISSN: 2579-4213  

Asian Flu Pandemic in Indonesia, 1957        | 138 

repeated this method in 1957 when the Asian flu struck, and he quickly recovered. 
Wiardjo shared his tricks with Suara Merdeka: “Wash the pumpkin until clean, then 
grate it to get the water. Drink the pumpkin water as often as possible until the body 
is healthy again.” 

In addition, Pikiran Rakjat reported that many residents consumed raw aromatic 
ginger (kencur) as an antidote and reliever of influenza symptoms (“Kinine dan kentjur 
obat mandjur utk mentjegah influenza,” 1957). From Jogjakarta, Kedaulatan Rakjat 
suggested to the public a way to prevent influenza by eating orange peels (“Kulit 
Djeruk,” 1957). That newspaper claims that eating orange peel is much more 
efficacious against influenza, even though it tastes bitter. However, the efficacy of the 
two methods in two newspapers is not measured with certainty. 
 
Religions as the Alternative Solutions 
Indonesian society believes that the spreading virus is a warning from God because 
humans are disobedient. They also take steps to get closer to God. For example, in 
Medan, when the virus first appeared, the elderly believed that the outbreak was 
caused by many people who were disobedient to God. They thought this was a 
warning from the Almighty for the behaviour of people who did not remember God 
and committed many sins. Therefore, various rituals were born according to the 
customs believed by the community. This also happened in Bogor, as reported by 
Sinpo, on June 7, 1957; it was reported that the parents in the village held a slametan 
to ward off the dangers of the disease (“Influenza Djakarta dancing Bogor,” 1957). 
They made tumpeng a symbol of the antidote to the plague and asked God to keep 
them away from the Asian flu. 

Meanwhile, in Yogyakarta, the community asked Sultan Hamengkubuwono IX 
(reigned, 1940-1988) to hold a Kyai Tunggul Wulung parade. According to Ricklefs 
(2013), Kyai Tunggul Wulung is one of the artefact collections of the Yogyakarta Palace, 
which is commonly used to ward off disease and evil because of its supernatural 
powers. Ravando (2020) noted that Kyai Ngul Wulung was paraded twice during the 
influenza outbreak 1892 and the Spanish Flu in 1918. However, the discourse on the 
Ngul Wulung artefact parade during the Asian flu pandemic was a societal debate. 
The debate emerged in the editorial column of Kedaulatan Rakjat, 24-29 June 1957. 

On 24 June 1957, a Jogja resident named Surono Tjokrowinoto wrote a letter 
requesting the sultan to hold a Tunggul Wulung parade ("Kjai Tunggul Wulung," 
1957). Surono said that many residents wanted Tunggul Wulung to be paraded. He 
was convinced Tunggul Wulung could eradicate the influenza outbreak in Jogjakarta 
and Indonesia. Four days later, Surono's request was taken seriously by another 
resident named H. Ahmad Basuni. Basuni considered the heirloom parade 
dishonourable because it was against Islam ("Tadjuk Rencana & Kjai Tunggul 
Wulung," 1957). Basuni argued that the Tunggul Wulung parade could cause a new 
disease called mental illness (crisis of faith) in addition to influenza. The community 
would not pray to God but instead rely on the supernatural power of an object 
considered sacred, which happened to be in Yogyakarta, named Kiyai Tunggul 



 
IHiS (Indonesian Historical Studies) 8 (2), 128-143 © 2024 | E-ISSN: 2579-4213  

Asian Flu Pandemic in Indonesia, 1957        | 139 

Wulung. This statement was a reaction from Islamists to the beliefs of the Javanese 
people. According to Soermarsaid Moertono, the Tunggul Wulung parade was a form 
of trust in the king's power to restore order, not just a matter of mysticism (Isnaeni, 
2020). A few days later, talk about the Tunggul Wulung parade resurfaced. One of 
them came from residents named Dirjohartono and Djoemijo ("Pikiran Pembatja," 
1957). They asked the sultan to hold the Tunggul Wulung parade to prevent disease 
outbreaks. They based their request on historical experience that disease outbreaks 
would subside after the Tunggul Wulung parade was held. The debate prompted 
Sultan Hamengkubuwono IX to intervene. In Kedaulatan Rakyat (July 4, 1957), the 
sultan permitted the Tunggul Wulung parade if the people wanted it ("Soal kelilingja 
K. Tunggul Wulung," 1957). However, after that, there was no more news about 
Tunggul Wulung. It is strongly suspected that the heirloom was not paraded because 
of the Asian flu, which later subsided. 
 
Solidarity to Facing the Pandemic 
During the Asian flu pandemic, people showed great solidarity and cooperation. On 
May 28, 1957, a Jakarta resident named Njoo Tjing Houw wrote an opinion piece 
asking the government to provide free vitamin C for workers (“Vitamin C untuk 
Buruh,” 1957). How argued that low-income workers could not afford vitamin C 
because it was expensive. Houw encouraged the government and wealthy people to 
distribute vitamin C to workers and their families. In addition, volunteers from various 
sectors of society helped the government deal with the influenza outbreak. As reported 
by Antara, medical students from the University of Indonesia had volunteered to 
handle the Asian flu. Organizations such as the Indonesian Red Cross (PMI) also 
opened their doors to volunteers to help eradicate diseases in the community (“Rakjat 
dan penjakit,” 1957). In Balikpapan, PMI provided free anti-influenza drugs for the 
entire community (“PMI tjabang Balikpapan,” 1957). In Semarang, there was an act of 
generosity from a group of people (“Jg Sepele Sadja,” 1957). They distributed free 
medicines to poor people who had contracted influenza. In addition, many rich people 
spontaneously gave medicines to those in need. 
 
The End of Asian flu Pandemic in Indonesia 
The Asian flu pandemic was reported to have disappeared when entering July 1957. 
Newspapers reported that influenza cases continued to decline. The situation 
gradually returned to normal as before the outbreak. The absence of reports from the 
local government regarding the Asian flu caused the Ministry of Health to officially 
declare that the Asian Influenza virus in Indonesia had "disappeared". This was stated 
on August 4, 1957 ("Influenza leap," 1957). The statement confirmed that the Asian flu 
pandemic in Indonesia had ended after three months of rampant among the 
Indonesian people. 

Unfortunately, there was no clear reason behind the official government 
statement. From an epidemiological perspective, there is no "telah lenjap" 
[disappeared]. The term usually refers to the idea that the virus has become one with 



 
IHiS (Indonesian Historical Studies) 8 (2), 128-143 © 2024 | E-ISSN: 2579-4213  

Asian Flu Pandemic in Indonesia, 1957        | 140 

the individual's immunity. This means that individuals, or the community on a large 
scale, have developed immunity to the H2N2 virus that causes the Asian flu. Although 
the Asian flu vaccine was available then, Indonesia was one of the countries that did 
not vaccinate. Therefore, it can be said that immunity was formed naturally or by herd 
immunity. 

The number of sufferers and the number of deaths due to the Asian flu were 
never known. The challenge of reconstructing the past is further compounded by the 
limited historical sources and poor coordination of data delivery between local and 
central governments, resulting in inaccurate or even unrecorded morbidity and 
mortality rates. There are at least two versions that explicitly relate to morbidity or the 
number of sufferers. First, it was put forward by Frederick L. Dunn in his article 
'Review of International Spread of New Asian Strains' (1958) which was presented in 
1957 at the Influenza Pandemic symposium. According to Dunn's records, there were 
6 million Asian flu sufferers out of 85 million Indonesians. Second, according to data 
from the Ministry of Health, the number of Asian flu sufferers in Indonesia was 202,469 
people ('Influenza throughout Indonesia', 1957a). This data is the only data released 
by the government, but only up to June 21, 1957. After that, there were no more records 
of Asian flu sufferers. 

Nevertheless, if we refer to the fact that it entered July 1957 until the outbreak 
was declared to end in August, there were no more than 200 thousand sufferers. Even 
if there is an increase, the possibility is only around 5-10 thousand sufferers, not 
soaring to hundreds of thousands. The government also did not explain further which 
areas had the highest infection rates. However, according to the West Java authority’s 
report said, influenza suffered in West Java is 116 thousand people, contributing to 
50% of the total cases in Indonesia, making it the highest influenza suffered in 
Indonesia (“Penderita influenza di Djabar,” 1957)  
 
Conclusions 
The Asian flu pandemic occurred in Indonesia from May to August. There are two 
versions of the number of sufferers: there are 6 million people and 202,469 people. The 
Asian flu pandemic came when the Indonesian government was making reforms after 
the War of Independence. Health infrastructure and other supporting personnel, such 
as doctors and health workers, are minimal. This shortage makes all healthcare 
facilities crowded with Asian flu patients.  

As the holder of control over handling the pandemic, the Ministry of Health is 
responsible for providing guidelines and directions to all regional governments at the 
provincial and city/district levels. This study objectively highlights the stuttering 
experienced by the Ministry of Health. This stuttering makes policies come out slowly 
and tend to be cautious. Another important aspect that stands out in this study is the 
government's view that tends to focus on treatment and ignore prevention. The 
research report that the H2N2 virus is not dangerous is the reason for the birth of this 
view. This caused the virus to spread rapidly until 350,446 Indonesians were infected 
with Asian flu, and formed herd immunity in the community. However, this does not 



 
IHiS (Indonesian Historical Studies) 8 (2), 128-143 © 2024 | E-ISSN: 2579-4213  

Asian Flu Pandemic in Indonesia, 1957        | 141 

mean that the treatment aspect went smoothly. 
The lack of health facilities and medical services was a major obstacle. 

Furthermore, the government was also slow in sending medical aid to various regions. 
However, the Ministry of Health's policy gives the impression that the government 
only views the number of sufferers as a statistical problem. Meanwhile, behind that is 
a very severe pain process that must be faced by every sufferer, both young and adult, 
from day to day, which then has an impact on the cessation of daily activities. 

Although the central government in handling the existence of the Asian flu 
pandemic has caused quite a polemic, on the other hand, over time the Asian flu 
pandemic has succeeded in testing Indonesia's solidarity as a nation and state. 
Although economic problems continue to occur and have repeatedly failed to find 
political solutions, for health matters the central government, regional governments, 
and the community have succeeded in showing good cooperation and solidarity. 

This is reflected in the emergence of attitudes of solidarity between communities 
and assistance flowing from the central government to all regions without 
discrimination even though the region is experiencing turmoil of disintegration. The 
discussion in this study is an entry point to see the existence of the Asian flu pandemic 
in terms of locality or transnationality, as well as to examine various other pandemics. 
Thus, this article is important to read as a reflection on the handling of the COVID-19 
pandemic. This understanding makes us aware that experiences and historical lessons 
will be useful in living life. The goal is so that mistakes in the past are not repeated in 
the future. 
 
Acknowledgement 
This research is part of my Master's thesis at Universitas Negeri Jakarta, 2022. 
 
References 
1/5 Penduduk Medan terserang Influenza. (21 May 1957). Waspada. 
135 orang meninggal di Kota Medan. (1 June 1957). Waspada. 
Apa kita harus Lakukan Kalau Wabah Influenza Mengamuk. (1957). Starweekly. 
Boediono (2016). Ekonomi Indonesia dalam lintasan sejarah. Jakarta: Mizan. 
Di Sumatera Utara belum terdapat wabah influenza. (22 May 1957). Kantor Berita 

Antara. 
Djangan gelisah. (29 May 1957). Kantor Berita Antara. 
Djuga di Makassar influenza mulai berdjangkit. (8 May 1957). Kantor Berita Antara. 
Djumlah korban lebih besar di kampung2. (5 June 1957). Sinpo. 
Dr. Maamoen: Influenza tidak berbahaja. (1957). Sinpo. 
Dr. Makmoen Soeriadilaga: Wabah influenza tidak dapat dihindarkan dengan adakan 

karantina dan penutupan sekolah2. (8 June 1957). Kantor Berita Antara. 
Dunn, F. L. (1958). Pandemic influenza in 1957. N.d. 
Han, H. Z. (2022). Mayhem in May: A social history of the 1957 Asian flu epidemic in the 

colony of Singapore history Supervised by: Naoko Shimazu. N.d. 
Honigsbaum, M. (2020). Revisiting the 1957 and 1968 influenza pandemics. The Lancet 



 
IHiS (Indonesian Historical Studies) 8 (2), 128-143 © 2024 | E-ISSN: 2579-4213  

Asian Flu Pandemic in Indonesia, 1957        | 142 

395 (10240), 1824–1826. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0140-6736(20)31201-0 
Influenza di seluruh Indonesia. (24 June 1957). Pikiran Rakjat. 
Influenza Djakarta menulari Bogor. (5 June 1957). Sinpo. 
Influenza lenjap. (5 August 1957). Sinpo. 
Influenza menjerang Indonesia. (June 1959). Djembatan. 
Influenza menjerang Kota Ambon dan sekitarnja. (16 June 1957). Kantor Berita Antara. 
Influenza naikan harga buah2an. (16 June 1957). Kantor Berita Antara. 
Isnaeni, H. F. (2020). Kiai Tunggul Wulung menangkal wabah penyakit. Historia.ID. 

Retrieved July 2022 from https://historia.id/kultur/articles/kiai-tunggul-wulung-
menangkal-wabah-penyakit-P1Rq2/page/1 

Jane-Beers, S. (2001). Jamu: The ancient Indonesian art of herbal healing. Java Books 
Industry. 

Jg sepele sadja. (1957). Suara Merdeka. 
Kinine dan kentjur obat mandjur utk mentjegah influenza. (21 June 1957). Pikiran 

Rakjat. 
Kjai Tunggul Wulung. (June 1957). Kedaulatan Rakjat. 
Kulit djeruk. (26 June 1957). Kedaulatan Rakjat. 
Labu utk obat influenza. (1957). Suara Merdeka. 
Leimena, J. (1954). Kesehatan rakjat di Indonesia: Pandangan dan planning. Van Dorp & 

Co. 
Lubis, F. (2008). Jakarta 1950-an: kenangan semasa remaja. Jakarta Komunitas Bambu. 
McMillen, C. W. (2016). Pandemics: A very short Introduction. In Pandemics: A Very 

Short Introduction. https://doi.org/10.1093/actrade/9780199340071.001.0001 
Menteri kesehatan Dr. Azis: Penduduk tidak perlu chawatir dan takut akan wabah 

influenza. (27 May 1957). Waspada. 
Neelakantan, V. (2017). The Indonesianization of social medicine. Lembaran Sejarah 10 

(1), 74–86. https://journal.ugm.ac.id/lembaran-sejarah/article/view/23654 
Neelakantan, V. (2019). Memelihara jiwa-raga bangsa: Ilmu pengetahuan, kesehatan 

masyarakat, dan pembangunan Indonesia di Era Soekarno. Jakarta: Kompas Gramedia. 
Obat influenza kedaerah2. (1957). Kedaulatan Rakjat. 
Obat2 influenza dikirim ke seluruh Indonesia. (17 June 1957). Sinpo. 
Offit, P. A. (2008). Vaccinated: One man’s quest to defeat the world’s deadliest diseases. New 

York: Harper Perennial. 
Payne, A. (1958). Some aspect of the epidemiology of the 1957 in Influnza Pandemic. 

Proceedings of the Royal Society of Medicine 59 (3), 184–188. 
https://doi.org/10.1177/003591576605900302 

Penderita influenza di Djabar. Pikiran Rakjat. 
Penjakit III. (1957) Dunia Wanita. 
Pikiran pembatja. (19570. Kedaulatan Rakjat. 
PMI tjabang Balikpapan. (11 June 1957). Kantor Berita Antara. 
Purwanto, B. (2020). Learning from the corona virus pandemic: Interdisciplinary 

history and strategic issues of historical research. Indonesian Historical Studies 4 (2), 
100–112. https://doi.org/10.14710/ihis.v4i2.9240 



 
IHiS (Indonesian Historical Studies) 8 (2), 128-143 © 2024 | E-ISSN: 2579-4213  

Asian Flu Pandemic in Indonesia, 1957        | 143 

Rakjat dan penjakit. (June 1957). Dunia Wanita. 
Ravando (2020). Perang melawan influenza: Pandemi flu Spanyol di Indonesia masa kolonial, 

1917-1918. Jakarta: Kompas Gramedia. 
Ricklefs, M. (1999). Sejarah Indonesia modern, 1200-2004. Yogyakarta: UGM Press. 
Ricklefs, M. (2013). Mengislamkan Jawa: Sejarah Islamisasi di Jawa dan penentangnya dari 

1930-sampai sekarang. Jakarta: Serambi. 
Sekitar influenza. (29 May 1957). Kantor Berita Antara. 
Sellwood, C. (2009). Brief history and epidemiological features of Pandemic Influenza. 

In J. Van Tam & C. Sellwood (Eds.), Introduction to pandemic influenza. Cambridge: 
Cambridge University Press. 

Semua sekolah di Kotapradja Medan ditutup satu Minggu. (23 May 1957). Waspada. 
Soal kelilingja K. Tunggul Wulung. (5 July 1957). Kedaulatan Rakjat. 
Tadjuk rencana & Kjai Tunggul Wulung. (28 June 1957). Kedaulatan Rakjat. 
Vaccine anti flu. (1957). Antara. 
Varia influenza. (1957). Starweekly. 
Viboud, C., Simonsen, L., Fuentes, R., Flores, J., Miller, M. A., & Chowell, G. (2015). 

Global mortality impact of the 1957-1959 influenza pandemic. Journal of Infectious 
Diseases 212 (11), 738–745. https://doi.org/10.1093/infdis/jiv534 

Vitamin C untuk buruh. (28 May 1957). Merdeka. 
Wabah influenza di Bandung. (25 May 1957). Pikiran Rakjat. 
Wabah influenza memasuki Bandung dan Pangkalpinang. (24 May 1957). Indonesia 

Raja. 
Ying, Q. (2018). History of influenza pandemics in China during the past century. 

Chinese Journal of Epidemiology 39 (8). 
 
 


