Bobby Nasution Urges End to Cyberbullying of Karo Food Poisoning Victims
- Two female students hospitalized after falling ill in a mass food poisoning outbreak in Indonesia's Kabupaten Karo were transferred to Jakarta for specialized medical care on Sept.
- According to reporting by detik.com, the transfer was ordered because the two students exhibited severe medical indicators and higher trauma levels than their peers.
- Alongside physical treatments, regional leaders have raised urgent concerns regarding the psychological toll exacted by online scrutiny.
Two female students hospitalized after falling ill in a mass food poisoning outbreak in Indonesia’s Kabupaten Karo were transferred to Jakarta for specialized medical care on Sept. 12, 2026, according to official reports from detik.com and CNN Indonesia. Agnesia Paruliana br Silitonga and Febiona Purba were flown out of Kualanamu International Airport following a direct directive from Vice President Gibran Rakabuming Raka, who intervened to ensure the teenagers received intensive oversight during their recovery.
Medical Transfer and Official Oversight in Jakarta
According to reporting by detik.com, the transfer was ordered because the two students exhibited severe medical indicators and higher trauma levels than their peers. While local medical teams in Medan were fully equipped to handle the cases, Vice President Gibran Rakabuming Raka requested their relocation to Jakarta so he could monitor their treatment directly. Accompanying medical personnel from Sumatera Utara traveled alongside the patients to Jakarta to ensure continuity of care, as reported by CNN Indonesia. Government officials confirmed that the central and regional administrations will absorb all medical expenses associated with the students’ rehabilitation until they fully recover. The outbreak traced back to Aug. 13, 2026, when 353 students across Kabupaten Karo fell ill hours after consuming meals distributed through the Makan Bergizi Gratis (MBG) nutritional program. While hundreds experienced symptoms, Febiona Purba and Agnesia Paruliana br Silitonga suffered more severe complications, with reports indicating Febiona experienced memory lapses and seizures, while Agnesia faced kidney-related health issues.
Public Appeals Against Cyberbullying During Recovery
Alongside physical treatments, regional leaders have raised urgent concerns regarding the psychological toll exacted by online scrutiny. According to detik.com and CNN Indonesia, Sumatera Utara Governor Bobby Nasution publicly urged the public and media outlets to halt intense digital exposure and negative commentary directed at the hospitalized teenagers. Cuman saya minta tolong kepada kita semua, yang perlu dipulihkan bukan hanya kesehatan medis tapi juga mentalnya dan juga psikis. Jadi saya minta tolong sekali ke media, permintaan anaknya juga kepada kami, jangan terlalu diblowup karena salah satu hasil pemeriksaan ada 4 poin, poin keempat itu anak kita ini mentalnya terganggu karena siber bullyng, seolah-olah mencari perhatian, ini menggangu mental anak-anak kami. Gubernur Sumatera Utara Bobby Nasution (via detik.com) Governor Bobby Nasution explained that medical evaluations revealed significant psychological distress stemming from cyberbullying, where online commentators accused the victims of fabricating their illnesses for attention. Authorities have instructed the patients to disconnect from social media entirely while external stakeholders curb extensive media coverage to protect the minors’ mental health, emphasizing that the reduction in publicity is intended strictly to aid healing rather than suppress reporting.
