Jakarta – Several countries, one of which is China, reported cases of bird flu that spread to humans. So, is bird flu highly contagious and can it be transmitted between humans?
Professor of Molecular Biology at Airlangga University (Unair) Prof. Dr. Chairul Anwar Nidom said that bird flu transmission to humans is rare, but it is still a risk so it should not be underestimated.
“Actually, WHO also said that the incident (bird flu transmission to humans) in Cambodia is a rare event, but it can happen. That means it might still be at risk. So we cannot underestimate bird flu,” he said in a webinar, Thursday (2 /3/2023).
He also appealed to the public not to worry too much because currently there have been no cases of bird flu transmission that is transmitted between humans, such as COVID-19 or seasonal flu. This is because the attachment sites or receptors for the bird flu virus are different from the receptors for the seasonal flu virus, which can be transmitted between humans.
The bird flu virus receptor is sialic acid (SA) alpha-2,3 which is abundant in birds or poultry. While the seasonal influenza virus receptor in humans is alpha-2,6 galactose which is abundant on the surface of the cells of the upper respiratory tract organs.
“What is there is that the virus spreads from poultry to certain people around it,” added Nidom.
According to Prof. Nidom, transmission of the bird flu virus to humans can occur if the concentration of the virus is very high. For example, when someone with poor immunity enters an area with a very high concentration of the virus. This condition makes it very possible for the virus to enter the respiratory tract.
“When (the virus) enters, then it makes adjustments to the receptors in our body, then it performs replication activities and so on,” he continued.
The mode of transmission, he continued, can occur through direct contact or surfaces contaminated with the virus or contaminated surfaces.
“If there is direct contact, for example with (poultry) feces or on the skin of the poultry, there is a virus then it flies, then we suck it up. If it is a contaminated surface, for example after handling a chicken, then there is a virus that sticks to the hands, so it can enter the body through nose or eyes,” Chairul explained.
However, Nidom warned that the threat of bird flu infection in humans is still a risk, so it is important to control bird flu.
Watch Video “Bird Flu Cases Detected in Humans in Cambodia“
(suc/fat)
