Tackling Bird Flu a Tad Too Late
By Amy Chew
INDONESIA has the highest number of human fatalities in the world from the deadly H5N1 virus which causes avian influenza or bird flu, with 65 deaths so far. The latest victim died last Thursday.
The virus has infected and killed millions of poultry, spreading with lightning speed across this vast nation since it first emerged in 2003.
Dr C.A. Nidom is the veterinarian scientist who discovered the virus’s existence in the country in 2003. When big commercial poultry businesses pressured the government into keeping silent over H5N1′s existence, Dr Nidom went public with his findings in 2004 in an effort to warn people of the dangers of bird flu. His actions drew adverse reactions from various quarters, including reports to the police and attorney-general’s office for causing “public panic”.
Dr Nidom, head of the Avian Influenza Laboratory, Tropical Disease Centre in Airlangga University, says the government is “too late” in taking steps to stop the virus. This has resulted in the ever rising human death toll.
Currently, humans get infected by coming into contact with sick poultry or their faeces. Scientists worry the virus will mutate into a form where it can spread through human-to-human transmission, causing a global pandemic.
Dr Nidom’s latest research shows a disturbing development – an estimated 20 per cent of the country’s cats are infected with H5N1. He warns that the latest findings raise the possibility of cats transmitting the virus to humans.
As Dr Nidom races against time to prevent the virus mutating into a deadlier form, he shares his findings and concerns.
Q: What is the latest situation in Indonesia and what is being done to stop bird flu?
A: The government is very late, too late in trying to stop the virus. The culling of sick poultry taking place now should have been done three years ago. At that time, there were not that many infected poultry. The virus has now spread to cats, dogs and pigs. These animals now carry the virus apart from chickens.
Q: What is the danger of having cats carrying the H5N1 virus?
A: A lot of cats are found to be infected with H5N1 virus, about 20 per cent of them in this country. Cats are mammals with a body temperature similar to human beings. Hypothetically, it is possible for the H5N1 virus in a cat to mutate into a structure similar to a human virus and infect humans. If that happens, it will worsen the situation. It will make it so much easier to transmit the virus to humans as there are many cats in Indonesia and they are everywhere. Many more people could be infected.
Q: Are cats able to spread the virus to humans?
A: Right now, I am conducting research to determine whether cats can spread the H5N1 virus to humans or to other cats.
Q: Indonesia has the highest death toll in the world. Is it impossible to control the spread of the virus?
A: Technically, it is not difficult to control the virus. Several countries have succeeded in controlling and preventing the spread of the virus. An example is Vietnam. What makes it difficult here (in Indonesia) is that there are too many interests, business, politics and others, involved in efforts to control the virus. For example, in 2004, we recommended that the government cull infected poultry and improve poultry breeding in Indonesia. The costs of culling would be high but the virus in the infected area will be immediately eliminated. Instead, the government chose to vaccinate chickens. Vaccination reduced the incidents of deaths and sickness among chickens but it did not eliminate the virus. It was the economic aspect that was prioritised. Now the government has decided to conduct culling but the virus has spread to other animals.
Q: Is it too late for Indonesia?
A: It is important for everyone to be aware that the problem of bird flu in Indonesia is becoming more complex. It is no longer easy to control the virus. This has, because of the delay in handling the virus, given the virus the opportunity to “manoeuvre” itself to infect other animals. Officials have targeted 2008 as the year Indonesia will be free from bird flu. I can only say Amin and only God knows.
Q: Last year, seven people in one family died of bird flu in Karo district, north Sumatra. The World Health Organisation called it a “limited” human-to-human transmission. What is your view?
A: What is the difference between human-to-human and limited human-to-human transmission? This is just a question of language to calm the public or to hide their (WHO) lack of understanding. I see that human-to-human transmission has already happened in Indonesia, people who were infected with H5N1 transmitted the disease to healthy people. There are indications that some people who were infected did not fall sick but are carrying the virus.
This could be because of their genetic make-up or because physically they were fit. The Health Department needs to look into this and test healthy people living in infected areas for H5N1, not just those who are sick. I am a vet, so this falls outside my jurisdiction. I also call upon international scientists to look into this aspect – the possibility that humans could be infected and not fall sick and become carriers. This is very important.
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