Oblivious to the flu

Indonesians come across as being a laid back lot. Their warm smiles and patient manner seem incongruous to the harsh realities they face.

This mildness makes them lackadaisical, so much so that many are oblivious to fears that an outbreak here could put them at the center of one of the worst multi-country pandemics in half a century.

This country has been warned. And again, earlier this week, a visiting United Nations team on the bird flu sent the strongest message yet: This country is simply not taking the necessary precautions to combat a major outbreak of avian influenza.

Of all the countries in the world, Indonesia should be the one most aware of the acute dangers lying in wait. Of the 63 people killed by the H5N1 virus in Southeast Asia since 2003, five have been in Indonesia. At least nine confirmed cases of human infection have been reported here.

The comments of the head of the UN team visiting Indonesia, Peter Roeder, confirm the extent of this nation's capricious approach toward the virus.

"It's not taken seriously enough by the people of this country," he said.

His remarks reflect the extent of cognizance most Indonesians have of bird flu.

Most are unaware, disinterested or content to brush off the potential dangers of a human influenza pandemic.

Many still perceive it in the context of just another seasonal disease that will quietly pass. The attitude of some reminds us of the early days of HIV/AIDS, when people simply believed they could never be infected. Meanwhile, those who are informed are unsure what to do.

It took many years of hard work, concerted efforts and intense campaigning before public awareness on HIV/AIDS prevention was achieved. A similar crusade is now needed to educate, inform and collectively combat avian influenza.

If it does come, at the very least the collective psyche of this nation would be prepared with the necessary technical precautions and social conditioning. As it is, some of those who are infected, along with their immediate family, are being treated like lepers in the dark ages -- with prejudice and exile -- by an ignorant public.

It is however also important to note the second part of Roeder's comments: "They (the public) are not aware of how serious the situation is".

Inattentiveness toward the dangers of bird flu can, for the most part, be blamed on the government's own intermittent and partial effort to cope with the virus' presence here.

Just as migratory birds circle the world according to the seasons, likewise the government's campaign moves in stops and starts.

If the public could be made aware of, through intensive advertising, about who their candidates and their running mate's were in the presidential campaigns, then a similar campaign can be conducted to educate the public on the dangers of bird flu, before it is too late.

Governments and institutions around the world are gripped with this problem, but here in Jakarta we have not, we dare to assume, spent a comparative amount on public information about bird flu as the advertising billions in the presidential campaigns of 2004.

One example of how narrow this government's vision is in averting the potential epidemic is the absence of a compensation strategy should mass culling be required. Such actions have been considered and talked about for months, but action plans have not been put in place. It is even questionable whether a detailed comprehensive one actually exists to deter further outbreaks.

Countries like the United States, for example, have clearly earmarked funds and drafted contingency plans to avert the possibility of an outbreak.

Jakarta's response has been the classic "lack of resources" or "no funds available".

Our answer to that is: "Get some!"

Resources can be committed when there is a political will to do so. Funding and assistance will flow if the government clearly displays coherent action to contain the spread of the disease.

Bird flu is becoming a global threat. A successful prevention campaign in a country like Indonesia is in the interests of the world. We are confident that help will be forthcoming from international donors if we start by helping ourselves.

They say there is no such thing as being "too late" to begin an endeavor in life. Unfortunately with bird flu that adage does not apply. Let us begin before it is really too late.