Vaccination advised to avoid mix of human and avian influenza<\/p>\n
Abdul Khalik, The Jakarta Post\/Jakarta<\/p>\n
With the rainy season upon us, a doctor has advised people to get
\nflu shots to reduce the risk of human flu and bird flu viruses
\nmixing to create a new, deadly virus that can be transmitted from
\nhuman to human.<\/p>\n
The medical director of International SOS in Jakarta, Uwe
\nStocker, said that although seasonal influenza shots could not
\nprotect people from the deadly H5N1 virus that causes bird flu,
\nthey could prevent people from getting both human and bird flu
\nviruses at the same time.<\/p>\n
\"People should get the latest seasonal human influenza
\nvaccine, especially if they want to go to places or countries
\nwhere the number of influenza cases is high and where bird flu is
\nendemic,\" he said during a seminar on bird flu at the Bina
\nNusantara School in South Jakarta on Thursday.<\/p>\n
The seminar was organized to get the latest information on
\nbird flu to parents of students at schools around Jakarta.<\/p>\n
Stocker said anyone who was infected with bird flu should be
\ngiven a human flu vaccine immediately to reduce the risk of human
\nflu and bird flu viruses combining to create a new virus.<\/p>\n
Experts have repeatedly warned that genes from the human flu
\nvirus could mix with the avian influenza virus in the human body,
\ncreating an entirely new and deadly virus that is transmittable
\nfrom person to person.<\/p>\n
The wet season, when traditionally more people fall ill with
\ninfluenza, increases the risk of this happening.<\/p>\n
Experts have also warned that continued contact between
\ninfected birds and humans may eventually result in the virus
\nmutating into a form that can rapidly spread among people,
\nsparking a pandemic that could kill millions.<\/p>\n
The director for disease control at the Ministry of Health,
\nHaryadi Wibisono, said that while individuals were encouraged to
\nget flu shots, the country did not have the capability to launch
\na nationwide campaign to vaccinate all Indonesians.<\/p>\n
\"Each ethnic group, or even every individual, probably needs a
\ndifferent vaccine. So it would be very expensive to conduct a
\nnational campaign. However, it is a very good idea if people take
\nthe initiative and have themselves vaccinated,\" he told The
\nJakarta Post.<\/p>\n
Haryadi added that his office was more focused on bird flu
\nrather than the human flu.<\/p>\n
Both Stocker and Haryadi agreed the best way to avoid the bird
\nflu virus was to take simple preventative measures, such as
\navoiding all direct contact with poultry and frequently washing
\nyour hands.<\/p>\n
\"Because the bird flu virus is contained in the feces of
\ninfected birds, people should avoid touching surfaces
\ncontaminated with poultry feces or secretions,\" Stocker said.<\/p>\n
The World Health Organization-accredited laboratory in Hong
\nKong has confirmed 12 bird flu cases in humans in Indonesia to
\ndate, with seven death since July.<\/p>\n
A 25-year-old woman died in Jakarta on Tuesday with symptoms
\nof bird flu. Local lab tests came back positive for the H5N1
\nvirus, but authorities are waiting for confirmation from the lab
\nin Hong Kong.<\/p>\n
Suggested measures to avoid bird flu virus<\/p>\n
1. Update flu vaccinations
\n2. Avoid all direct contact with poultry
\n3. Avoid poultry farms and bird markets where live birds are
\nraised or kept
\n4. Avoid touching surfaces contaminated with poultry feces or
\nsecretions
\n5. Wash hands frequently using soap and water
\n6. Influenza viruses are destroyed by heat; all foods from
\npoultry, including eggs and blood, should be thoroughly cooked<\/p>\n
Source: International SOS-Jakarta<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/vaccination-advised-to-avoid-mix-of-human-and-avian-influenza-1447893297", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }