JAKARTA, DAILY DISWAY- AS MUCH 22 chickens and 3 ducks died in Cambodia. The poultry was proven exposed to bird flu (H5N1). In addition, it was reported, in the village a number of wild birds died.
In fact, bird flu has spread to humans. An 11-year-old boy died from exposure to the H5N1 virus. Currently there are 11 more people being examined.
“It would be even better if our Ministry of Health coordinated all Health Ministries in ASEAN countries for vigilance and anticipation,” said former WHO Southeast Asia Director of Communicable Diseases Tjandra Yoga Aditama in his official statement, Monday, February 27, 2023.
Coordination is important to do immediately. Moreover, Indonesia is now the chairman of ASEAN 2023. Anticipation can be done by detecting bird flu cases in ASEAN countries other than Cambodia, including Indonesia, so you won’t be missed.
If cases are found in humans outside of Cambodia, maximum effort is needed. Mainly to control at the source.
“Source control is important so that cases do not spread to other countries,” he continued. On the other hand, countries that don’t have cases yet need to fortify themselves. There are at least five things that need to be done.
First, strict surveillance on poultry and humans to detect the possibility of an entry of cases. In poultry, detection can be done in three places. Namely, farms, chicken/poultry markets, and the home environment.
In humans, it can be detected in every hospital and other health care facilities. If there are suspicions of cases in humans and animals, a joint team must be formed immediately. Namely, between human health and animal health to go into the field.
“Third, double-check the readiness and availability of diagnostic facilities,” he continued. Fourth, check the availability of the bird flu drug, which so far is Oseltamivir under the Tamiflu brand.
Fifth, continue to work closely with WHO to monitor developments in cases and genomics.
The emergence of bird flu cases in humans in Cambodia is quite worrying. Even so, recently Cambodia confirmed that the 11-year-old girl who died was not exposed to a new clade avian flu.
However, as a precautionary measure, the Ministry of Health appealed to a number of regions to increase the “high alarm”. The Head of the Ministry of Health’s Communications Bureau Dr. Siti Nadia Tarmizi warns of the dangers of transmission in livestock to wildlife conservation.
“Of course there must be strict monitoring of the possibility of H5N1 transmission to humans,” said Nadia when contacted yesterday. Currently, the Ministry of Health has communicated with the Ministry of Agriculture and the Ministry of Environment and Forestry. That way, it can be handled immediately if there are findings of suspicion until confirmation of bird flu cases.
The Ministry of Agriculture is highlighting an increase in the H5N1 Clade 2.3.4.4b and Clade 2.3.2.1c bird flu outbreaks in the world. Waterfowl deaths, namely ducks and ducks, during the April to November 2022 period also continued to increase.
In addition, the H5N1 subtype was identified as positive for the H5N1 Clade 2.3.4.4b virus through PCR testing and sequencing at unvaccinated Peking duck commercial farms in South Kalimantan.
