Exposure to bird flu through animal markets<\/p>\n
Femke van den Bos, Jakarta<\/p>\n
With the threat of Avian Influenza (bird flu) increasing
\ndaily, some decisive measures need to be taken.<\/p>\n
Exotic birds, water birds, poultry and some mammal species are
\nsusceptible to the bird flu. After infection with Avian
\nInfluenza, it can take anything up to three days before the
\nanimal shows symptoms. During this period, shedding of the virus
\nhas already started.<\/p>\n
Some species of water birds carry the virus without becoming
\nill. These species form a great risk because they are able to
\nspread the disease without being detected.<\/p>\n
Transmission of the virus to other animals or humans occurs
\nthrough the respiratory tract, the conjunctivae and feces.
\nInfected feces can stay contagious for a long period.<\/p>\n
In animal markets, wild mammals, birds, and reptiles are in
\ntransit daily. In these markets they are in contact with people
\nand with dozens of other species before they are shipped to other
\nmarkets, sold locally, or even freed and sent back into the wild
\nas part of religious customs.<\/p>\n
Pramuka Market in East Jakarta is likely one of the world's
\nlargest animal markets (unfortunately endangered animals are
\ntraded here as well) followed by Jakarta's Jatinegara, Barito and
\nSurabaya's Bratang and Semarang's Karimata bird markets.<\/p>\n
Hunters, middle men, and consumers all experience some type of
\ncontact as each animal is traded. Other wildlife in the trade is
\ntemporarily exposed, and domestic animals and wild scavengers in
\nvillages and market areas consume the remnants and wastes from
\nthe traded wildlife.<\/p>\n
The free ranging chickens in Indonesia can be easily exposed
\nto the virus in this way, and spread it even further. This trade,
\ncoupled with rapid modern transportation and the fact that
\nmarkets serve as network hubs rather than as product endpoints,
\ndramatically increases the movement and potential cross-species
\ntransmission of infectious agents like avian influenza.<\/p>\n
Besides the obvious economic threat to the poultry industry, a
\npossible pandemic is a great threat to public health. The moment
\nthe avian virus mutates into a new strain which is transmissible
\nfrom human to human, a pandemic is likely to occur. Pandemics are
\ndifferent from seasonal outbreaks or \"epidemics\" of influenza.<\/p>\n
Seasonal outbreaks are caused by subtypes of influenza
\nviruses that are already in existence among people, whereas
\npandemic outbreaks are caused by new subtypes or by subtypes that
\nhave never circulated among people or that have not circulated
\namong people for a long time. The worst known pandemic of
\ninfluenza (the \"Spanish flu\") occurred in 1918-1919, killing
\napproximately 40 million people around the world.<\/p>\n
In several Western countries a limited amount of antiviral
\ndrugs (amantadine, rimantadine, oseltamivir, and zanamivir) are
\navailable for influenza patients. For example, Oseltamivir,
\nadministered in the first 48 hours after symptoms occur, shortens
\nthe disease period to two days, and decreases the chance of
\nsometimes-deadly viral pneumonia.<\/p>\n
Unfortunately, these drugs are not available in Indonesia. The
\nWorld Health Organization will receive one million doses by the
\nend of 2005.<\/p>\n
Avoiding infection with bird flu is not difficult:<\/p>\n
* Don't go to markets where birds are being traded<\/p>\n
* Only eat well-cooked chicken meat<\/p>\n
* Avoid close contact with birds, poultry and their excrement<\/p>\n
Prevention of further spread of influenza is extremely
\nimportant. Closing the animal markets is a relatively easy
\nmeasure with a very clear result. So, what are the authorities
\nwaiting for?<\/p>\n
Femke van den Bos is a veterinarian at the Wildlife Rescue
\nCentre in Tegal Alur, Jakarta and can be reached at
\nfemkevandenbos@hotmail.com.<\/p>",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
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