IPB doctor: Rain exposure does not directly cause flu, BMKG forecasts rain
The illness comes from viruses, while cold after getting wet can affect comfort and the respiratory tract.
Rain is forecast to fall in Jakarta and many other major cities in Indonesia on Friday, while doctors note that getting wet in the rain does not automatically cause flu. BMKG said light rain could occur in Central, West, South and East Jakarta, while the national forecast also shows light to moderate rain in various regions. IPB University doctor and lecturer dr Widya Khairunnisa said flu or the common cold is a respiratory infection caused by a virus, not by rainwater or wet hair. However, cold temperatures after getting wet can trigger narrowing of blood vessels in the skin, make the body shiver and feel uncomfortable, and affect the nasal mucosa and the respiratory tract's cleansing mechanism. She recommended rinsing the body with clean water and drying the hair immediately after getting wet in the rain.