Vaccination of poultry takes priority over humans<\/p>\n
As a physician and veterinarian, Mangku Sitepoe is active in
\nhis two areas of expertise in animal and human health. The former
\nmember of the Veterinary Public Commission of the Ministry of
\nAgriculture has also written several articles about bird flu
\nissues. He shared his views and knowledge with The Jakarta Post's
\nKornelius Purba about the disease.<\/p>\n
Question: The government is very slow in containing the bird
\nflu virus and the public also seem indifferent. What is really
\ngoing on?<\/p>\n
Answer: Bird flu cases had actually been found in August 2003,
\nbut the government announced it only on Jan. 24, 2004, which was
\nfollowed by the government's decision that bird flu had become a
\npandemic. But because it only affected poultry farms people just
\ndid not care. The voice of the veterinarians was unheard. Only
\nwhen the virus spread and infected humans then people suddenly
\nwoke up.<\/p>\n
This disease belongs to the zoonosis category, which means it
\ncan spread from animals to humans.<\/p>\n
There are two patients here: Animals and humans. And there are
\ntwo authorities here: First the health and medical authorities
\nfor humans through physicians and the veterinary authorities for
\nthe animals. These two authorities must work closely.<\/p>\n
Do you mean that only humans are getting attention?<\/p>\n
People are scared because the disease has affected humans. But
\nactually we must find the root and the source of the problem. We
\nmust prioritize the animals. But it does not happen like that. We
\nonly treat humans while it is extremely important to treat the
\nsource of the disease. Bird flu has claimed seven lives but
\npeople do not realize that about 15 millions chickens have died
\nfrom the virus.<\/p>\n
What does the government have to do then?<\/p>\n
We must stop the transmission from poultry to humans, that is
\nthe first step. After that we must prepare to treat humans. We
\nshould not buy the vaccine first for humans but for poultry.<\/p>\n
Why does the government not conduct a mass cull?<\/p>\n
There are several reasons. When bird flu of sub type H5N1
\nspread in Hong Kong and killed six people local authorities
\nculled about two million chickens. But in 1999 and in 2003 the
\ndisease returned. That was why when I was with the commission we
\nrecommended not to cull poultry. In early 2004 it had affected
\neight provinces. How could we stamp it out totally? It is
\nimpossible to cull about 400 million chickens. In addition we
\nalso do not have the funds. Now the situation is even worse where
\n22 provinces have been affected. What we can do is only selective
\nculling. We must make an early warning system.<\/p>\n
What has the government done to stop the pandemic?<\/p>\n
The Ministry of Agriculture, in this case the Directorate
\nGeneral of Husbandry has taken four measures: Vaccination,
\nselective culling, bio-security and surveillance. It has shown a
\ndeclining trend as of May this year. We have been quite
\nsuccessful with the vaccination program, although it is not aimed
\nat preventing the disease but just to halt it. According to
\nresearch, however, we are still facing problems with backyard
\nfarming where humans have very close contact with their chickens.
\nWe need to educate the farmers.<\/p>\n
But WHO opposes the vaccination policy, doesn't it?<\/p>\n
Yes, until now, WHO does not agree at all with vaccination.
\nWhy? The world body is now worried about the mutation of the bird
\nflu from humans to humans. When the disease outbreak is so
\nwidespread, which is called virus reassortment in poultry, then
\nit may infect humans and then from one human to another. This is
\nthe third of six phases to become a pandemic. WHO worries about
\nthis. Culling is WHO's preference, especially in anticipation of
\nthe rainy season.<\/p>\n
Do we have previous experience in handling such a pandemic?<\/p>\n
I myself was involved in 1983 when then president Soeharto
\ninstructed a total culling of cows at any cost when foot-and-
\nmouth disease spread here. Farmers received compensation and at
\nthat time Australia helped us financially. What I mean is we need
\nstrong leadership. And it worked at that time and since then we
\nare free of the disease.<\/p>\n
Why has the government refused foreign assistance this time?<\/p>\n
I just don't know. In my view we must accept the assistance.
\nThere is nothing wrong in it, it is not interference by foreign
\ncountries. The most important thing is that we use it with
\naccountability and effectively. This disease is not only the
\nconcern of the Indonesian people but people all over the world.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/vaccination-of-poultry-takes-priority-over-humans-1447893297",
"image": ""
},
"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
}