The Indonesian Minister of Health has recently warned about the risk of bird flu transmission from rats and flies, as a new study from Gadjah Mada University suggests that these creatures could be intermediaries in disease transmission.
“In addition to eliminating flies and rats, it is essential to dispose of waste from pigs and chickens, as these animals are potential sources of the virus that can transmit diseases to each other and to humans,” Minister Siti Fadilah Supari stated. However, she urged the public not to panic, as long as they maintain a clean living environment through disinfection and consuming nutritious food.
Currently, the Indonesian government has prepared Tamiflu, a medication capable of combating bird flu outbreaks. Patients presenting with symptoms such as high fever (38-40 degrees Celsius) for 2-4 days, cough, cold, and early signs of pneumonia are advised to take Tamiflu within the next two days. However, the medication will not be effective for patients who are in advanced stages of the illness. Additionally, “Tamiflu is only intended for treating symptomatic individuals, and should not be used by healthy individuals or those without symptoms, as it could lead to drug resistance,” Siti explained.
Indonesia has received 100,000 Tamiflu tablets with support from Australia and through the distribution of the World Health Organization (WHO). The Indonesian Minister mentioned that the government will also import additional supplies to ensure that hospitals are adequately stocked in anticipation of an increase in cases.
As of now, there is no bird flu vaccine available for humans, only for animals. Regarding the use of traditional medicine to treat H5N1, the Indonesian Ministry of Health has not provided suggestions, as most traditional medicines have not undergone clinical trials or scientific validation.
As of Thursday, the number of suspected bird flu cases in Indonesia has reached 23. All patients are being treated at Sulianti Saroso Hospital, located north of the capital Jakarta, which specializes in infectious disease treatment. Among the suspected cases are two five-year-old girls, Riska and Yesica, who sadly passed away on Wednesday. Initial tests on Riska returned negative, while the results for Yesica have not yet been concluded.
Mỹ Linh (according to Asia Pulse news)
