{
    "success": true,
    "data": {
        "id": 1568707,
        "msgid": "expert-advanced-research-on-bats-essential-for-zoonosis-prevention-1771932278",
        "date": "2026-02-24 17:03:06",
        "title": "Expert: Advanced Research on Bats Essential for Zoonosis Prevention",
        "author": "",
        "source": "ANTARA_ID",
        "tags": "",
        "topic": "Social Policy",
        "summary": "A senior virologist from Indonesia's National Research and Innovation Agency (BRIN) has emphasised the urgent need for comprehensive research on bat species to prevent pandemics caused by zoonotic viruses such as Nipah, which carries a mortality rate of 40-75%. With bats harbouring at least 70 virus families including those responsible for Ebola, SARS-CoV-2, and rabies, upstream research is critical for improving diagnosis, treatment, and epidemic control strategies.",
        "content": "<p>Jakarta (ANTARA) - A virology expert from the National Research and\nInnovation Agency (BRIN), NiLuh Putu Indi Dharmayanti, has highlighted\nthe need for research on bat species as one of the preventive and\ncontrol measures against zoonotic viruses such as Nipah.<\/p>\n<p>The Head of the BRIN\u2019s Health Research Organisation and also a Senior\nVirologist, Molecular Biologist, and Expert Researcher in\nEmerging\/Re-emerging Diseases, NiLuh Putu Indi Dharmayanti, stated\nduring an online discussion followed from Jakarta on Tuesday, that bats\ncarry several zoonotic viruses, including those found in Indonesia.<\/p>\n<p>This is also necessary to improve diagnosis and treatment, as well as\nto control epidemics of zoonotic diseases, which are infectious diseases\ntransmitted from animals to humans and vice versa.<\/p>\n<p>Bats are one of the carriers of zoonotic viruses, with at least 70\nvirus families associated with them.<\/p>\n<p>Some of these viruses are known to cause diseases ranging from the\nNipah virus, which has a mortality rate of 40-75% of confirmed cases, to\nEbola, SARS-CoV-2, and rabies.<\/p>\n<p>She said that focusing research on bats will be an important step as\nan upstream mitigation measure to address the potential for pandemics\ncaused by these viruses.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cFocusing on bats is truly the most fundamental step to prevent\npandemics from the outset. Bats are in a unique position given the large\nnumber of zoonotic viruses they carry,\u201d said Indi.<\/p>\n<p>Previously, the World Health Organization (WHO) confirmed two recent\ndeaths from the Nipah virus in India and Bangladesh. In Indonesia, there\nhave been no confirmed cases of suspected patients infected with the\nvirus, with data from 2024-2026 showing 16 suspected cases in Indonesia,\nall of which tested negative.<\/p>",
        "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/expert-advanced-research-on-bats-essential-for-zoonosis-prevention-1771932278",
        "image": ""
    },
    "sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
    "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
}