Avian influenza virus (H5N1): effects of physico-chemical factors on its survival

Sebuah kajian terbaru telah dilakukan untuk menentukan efek fisik dan kimia pada agen HPAI (highly pathogenic Avian Influenza) strain H5N1. Kajian yang berjudul Avian influenza virus (H5N1): effects of physico-chemical factors on its survival dalam Virology Journal 2009 ini memberikan informasi berapa lama, dalam kondisi bagaimana virus H5N1 dapat bertahan hidup di lingkungan, dan cara terbaik untuk membunuh virus tersebut.

Bahkan jika virus ini tidak memiliki kemampuan untuk menimbulkan pandemi, tetap saja berpotensi menimbulkan endemi di lingkungan tersebut. Saat ini, negara-negara yag telah terinfeksi oleh virus tersebut adalah Mesir, Indonesia, Cina, India, Pakistan dan Vietnam, namun tidak tertutup kemungkinan bahwa suatu hari virus tersebut akan menyebar ke Amerika Serikat, Kanada dan Eropa.

Ancaman ini juga tidak terbatas pada virus H5, namun virus H7 dan H9 juga harus diperhatikan. Selama ini, vaksinasi unggas dianggap menjadi tindakan pencegahan terbaik. Pemusnahan unggas yang terinfeksi dan penyucihamaan lingkungan yang terinfeksi menjadi pilihan metode kontrol.

Peneliti di Pakistan berhasil mengisolasi virus H5N1 selama wabah 2006 dan membiakkannya dalam embrio telur ayam. Mereka kemudian mengambil cairan allanto-amniotic (AAF) yang berisi virus, dan mengujinya dalam berbagai kondisi kimia dan lingkungan untuk melihat berapa lama virus tersebut dapat hidup. Berikut adalah cuplikan hasil penelitiannya:

1. Virus AI strain H5N1 tetap memiliki kemampuan infeksi pada suhu 4°C selama lebih dari 100 hari, meskipun aktivitas HA-nya menurun.

2. Virus kehilangan kemampuan infeksinya setelah 24 jam disimpan dalam suhu ruangan (28°C).

3. Virus menoleransi paparan suhu 56°C selama 15 menit, namun menjadi tidak aktif setelah terpapar selama 30 menit.

4. sinar ultraviolet tidak memiliki kemampuan untuk menghambat kemampuan berkembang virus, bahkan setelah virus terpapar selama 60 menit.

5. sampel virus diberi larutan asam (pH<7)>7) untuk menentukan tingkat keasaman atau basa yang dapat membuat virus menjadi tidak aktif. Strain H5N1 mati ketika terpapar dengan kondisi pH 1, 3, 11 dan 13, sementara tetap hidup dalam kondisi pH 7 selama 6, 12, 18 dan 24 jam.

6. virus H5N1 menjadi tidak aktif dengan formalin (0.2, 0.4, dan 0.6% setelah 15 menit), Yodium kristal (0.4 dan 0.6% setelah 15 menit), Phenol kristal (0.4 dan 0.6% setelah 15 menit).

7. Lifebuoy, Surf Excel dan soda kaustik menonaktifkan virus pada konsentrasi 0.1, 0.2, dan 0.3% setelah 5 menit kontak, sementara konsentrasi 0.05% tidak cukup untuk membunuh virus.

Walaupun virus ini relatif mudah dinonaktifkan oleh metode penyucihamaan yang umum, namun pada temperatur yang rendah dan di media yang sesuai virus dapat tetap hidup bahkan sampai berbulan-bulan. Sekarang, yang harus menjadi fokus perhatian adalah memperkuat bio-security di peternakan dan tempat penetasan, untuk mencegah terjadinya wabah avian influenza dengan implikasi yang lebih luas.

Jurnal tersebut dapat ditemukan di http://www.virologyj.com/content/6/1/38. Artikelnya dapat didownload di link ini: http://www.virologyj.com/content/pdf/1743-422x-6-38.pdf.

Symposium Internasional: AVIAN INFLUENZA IN INDONESIA CONTROL, PREVENTION AND SURVEILLANCE

Indonesia memiliki laboratorium dengan fasilitas Animal BSL-3 yang terletak di Universitas Airlangga Surabaya. Sayangnya hal ini belum diketahui oleh banyak orang. Ketidaktahuan khalayak, baik di Indonesia maupun di dunia, tentang keberadaan fasilitas ini membuat Indonesia diragukan kemampuannya dalam mengeliminasi penyakit Flu Burung dan penyakit zoonosis lainnya.

Untuk menjawab keraguan tersebut, pada tanggal 19 maret 2009 di Universitas Airlangga Surabaya, diadakan symposium internasional dengan tema "Avian Influenza: Control, Prevention, and Surveillance."

Symposium ini bertujuan untuk membuka sekaligus memperkenalkan fasilitas Animal BSL-3 yang dimiliki oleh Universitas Airlangga. Fasilitas Animal BSL-3 ini memiliki beberapa keunggulan, khususnya fasilitas hewan coba dalam penggunaan hewan monyet sebagai hewan coba, disamping hewan ferret, mencit, maupun unggas.

Symposium ini juga bertujuan menunjukkan kesiapan bangsa Indonesia dalam mengantisipasi penyakit Flu Burung dan penyakit zoonosis lainnya serta mendapatkan masukan dari pakar Flu Burung dan kesehatan dunia dalam melakukan antisipasi terjadinya peningkatan penyakit Flu Burung dan penyakit zoonotik lainnya.

Publikasi Flu Burung Terbaru dari STEPS Centre

Sebagai dokumen yang ditampilkan pada pertemuan internasional “Expert Consultation One World, One Health – From Ideas To Action” yang diadakan di Canada, 16 – 19 Maret 2009 lalu, STEPS Centre mempublikasikan dokumentasi pengalaman penanganan avian influenza oleh negara – negara Asia.

Sejumlah tema pokok yang disorot, termasuk pentingnya pendekatan kesejahteraan mata pencaharian, kesempatan untuk belajar dari potensi lokal; tantangan dalam membangun sistem respon dan geopolitik - dan pentingnya mengambil kebijakan baik lokal maupun internasional terhadap keadaan politik dan pengaruh birokrasi dalam pelaksanaan sistem one world, one health.

Dibawah ini adalah link dari publikasi – publikasi tersebut yang diperoleh dari http://www.steps-centre.org/ourresearch/avianflu.html#country:

• STEPS Working Paper 16 - Cambodia Cambodia’s Victim Zero: Global and National Responses to Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza Sophal Ear (pdf 2MB)

• STEPS Working Paper 17 - Indonesia The Political Economy of Avian Influenza in Indonesia by Paul Forster (pdf 1MB)
  

• STEPS Working Paper 18 - Thailand The Political Economy of Avian Influenza in Thailand by Rachel M. Safman (pdf 834kb)
  

• STEPS Working Paper 19 - Vietnam The Political Economy of Avian Influenza Response and Control in Vietnam by Tuong Vu (pdf 775kb)
  

• Overview presentation: The political economy of avian influenza - SE Asia country study workshop (on Slideshare)

Pedoman Pembersihan dan Fasilitas Kendaraan saat Pandemi

HHS (The United States government's principal agency for protecting the health of all Americans and providing essential human services.) baru saja merilis Pedoman Pembersihan dan Fasilitas Kendaraan saat Pandemi (Interim Guidance on Cleaning Transit Vehicles and Facilities during a Pandemic), yang dirancang untuk memberikan industri dan dunia usaha panduan tentang bagaimana cara terbaik dalam melindungi kebersihan kendaraan selama pandemi, dan dengan demikian mengurangi resiko untuk penumpang.

Interim Guidance on Cleaning Transit Vehicles and Facilities during a Pandemic:

• Interim Guidance for Cargo Trucking Crews for the Prevention of Pandemic Influenza
  Guidelines for cleaning a truck cab after a truck arrives with a driver or helper suspected to have pandemic.

• Interim Guidance for Aircraft Cleaning When Pandemic Influenza is Suspected in a Passenger or Crew Member
  Guidelines for cleaning the cabin when an aircraft has carried a traveler who is suspected to have pandemic influenza.

• Interim Guidance for Cleaning Passenger and Cargo Vessels during an Influenza Pandemic

Guidelines for individuals who are responsible for shipboard health and safety.

• Interim Guidance for Transit Station Cleaning During and Influenza Pandemic
  Guidelines for employees and employers for cleaning a transit station during an influenza pandemic.

• Interim Guidance for Passenger Railcar (Transit Vehicle) Cleaning When Pandemic Influenza is Suspected in a Passenger or Crew Member
  Guidelines for cleaning a passenger rail car that has carried a traveler with a suspected case of pandemic influenza.

• Interim Guidance for Cleaning International Port of Entry (IPOE) Detention Facilities When Pandemic Influenza is Suspected in a Detainee or Staff Member
  Guidelines for employees and managers responsible for cleaning an IPOE detention facility that has housed a detainee or employed a staff member with a suspected case of pandemic influenza.

• Interim Guidance for Cleaning Emergency Medical Service (EMS) Transport Vehicles during an Influenza Pandemic
  Guidelines for cleaning or maintaining EMS Transport Vehicles after transporting a suspected influenza patient during a pandemic.

FMITFB Sosialisasi ke 1.153 Warga Depok

Depok, 7 Maret 2009, Komnas FBPI bersama Forum Mahasiswa Indonesia Tanggap Flu Burung (FMITFB) Jawa Bagian Barat melaksanakan sosialisasi langsung dari rumah ke rumah atau door-to-door campaign di RW 8, Desa Rangkapan Jaya, Kecamatan Pancoran Mas, Kota Depok.

Kegiatan ini merupakan inisiasi dari Kelompok Kerja FMITFB Universitas Indonesia bersama dengan Dinas Pertanian Kota Depok.

Diharapkan melalui kegiatan tersebut dapat memberikan penerangan kepada masyarakat Depok, khususnya warga Pancoran Mas mengenai cara - cara pencegahan flu burung dan perubahan perilaku menuju perilaku hidup bersih dan sehat.

Seminar Interaktif Strategi Melindungi Dunia Usaha dari Dampak Flu Burung dan Pandemi Influenza di Propinsi Banten

Kamis, 5 Maret 2009, Pilot Project Avian Influenza Control and Pandemic Influenza Preparedness Tangerang, menyelenggarakan Seminar Interaktif "Strategi Melindungi Dunia Usaha dari Dampak Flu Burung dan Pandemi Influenza” di Hotel Le Dian, Serang, Banten.

Seminar ini dihadiri perwakilan dari jajaran Pemerintah Propinsi Banten, Pemerintah Kota Cilegon, Kabupaten Serang, Kota Serang, Kabupaten Tangerang, Kota Tangerang, Kabupaten Lebak, Kabupaten Rangkasbitung, dan Kabupaten Pandeglang serta dari Swasta, perusahaan atau badan usaha se – Propinsi Banten.

Dalam pertemuan ini, dihasilkan kesepakatan perusahaan dalam menghadapi dampak flu burung dan kesiapsiagaan pandemi influenza yang antara lain meyakini permasalahan flu burung dan bahayanya, kemungkinan terjadinya penularan antar manusia sehingga berdampak pada kelumpuhan perusahaan. Disepakati bahwa seluruh peserta akan berperan aktif dalam usaha pencegahan penularan flu burung dan mempersiapkan diri dalam menghadapi pandemi influenza.

Pesta Siaga 2009 Pramuka Tanggap Flu Burung

Tanggal 21 dan 28 Februari 2009 lalu. Para Siaga Pramuka se-Kabupaten dan Kota Bogor berkumpul di Fakultas Kedokteran Hewan Institut Pertanian Bogor (IPB) untuk melaksanakan kegiatan Pesta Siaga Pramuka Tanggap Flu Burung.

Dihadiri oleh Ketua Pelaksana Harian Komnas FBPI, Rektor IPB, dan Ketua Kwartir Nasional Gerakan Pramuka Indonesia, kegiatan ini merupakan kerjasama antara Pramuka IPB dengan CBAIC-USAID serta Komnas FBPI untuk meningkatkan pengetahuan dan kepedulian siswa-siswi sekolah dasar terhadap pesan-pesan pencegahan flu burung untuk kemudian mereka menjadi agen informasi dikeluarga dan lingkungannya.

Strengthening Community-Based Management of Avian and Human Influenza (AHI) in Asia

An International Study Tour focussed on the GTZ Project on ‘Awareness-raising and Life-skills Development for AHI Prevention and Control in -Schools in Indonesia’

Yogyakarta, 18-20 February, Development practitioners from Indonesia, Lao PDR, Myanmar, the Philippines and Thailand visited GTZ’s Bird Flu Awareness in Primary Schools (BAPS) initiative as an innovative approach to strengthen community based management of Avian Influenza in Asia. The school-based bird flu awareness initiative has been developed by the (Deutsche Gesellschaft fuer Technische Zusammenarbeit- GTZ) on behalf of the German Government and is currently in the second pilot phase. It is the only initiative in Asia that explicitly uses a school-based approach to increase awareness and promote prevention to halt the spread of the virus. Community practitioners from several countries were interested to learn more about the school-based awareness programs that can reach out to teachers, pupils, parents and the extended community.

GTZ Indonesia hosted a three-day international Study Tour, organized by the AHI-NGO-RC/RC-Asia Partnership, involving participants from CBOs, NGOs and Red Cross/Red Crescent societies working in community-based AHI management in their respective countries of Indonesia, Lao PDR, Myanmar, the Philippines and Thailand. The study tour is part of the project on ‘Strengthening Community-Based Approaches to Management of AHI in Asia’ being implemented by the AHI-NGO-RC/RC-Asia Partnership – comprised of the Asian Disaster Preparedness Center (ADPC), CARE, the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) and the International Rescue Committee (IRC) – and is funded by the Canadian Government via the Asian Development Bank (ADB).

The three-day event was officially opened by the Director for Kindergarten and Primary Schools Development of the Ministry of National Education and the Head of Provincial Education Administration in Yogyakarta. Key note speeches were delivered by the Indonesian National Committee for Avian Influenza Control and Pandemic Influenza Preparedness, the Regional Working Group III of the National Committee in Yogyakarta as well as GTZ Task Force for Avian Influenza and GTZ BAPS.

Mr. Mudjito, the Director for Kindergarten and Primary Schools Development, lauded BAPS: “Targeting the school community, especially primary school children can lead to effective behavior change – which is one of the main challenges of most information campaigns. Another important aspect of targeting children is the high vulnerability of children to bird flu, both in Indonesia and worldwide.” One of the most outstanding features of the BAPS approach is that it entails a very comprehensive array of products, including a sound training system for teachers to achieve behaviour change by integrating key messages into the existing curriculum.

The “Bird Flu Awareness in Primary Schools” package consists of teacher trainings, teaching aids, accompanying school booklets for children and information material for the school administration and parents as well as parent information sessions. This broad range of tools allows reaching out to teachers, pupils and their families and the surrounding community at large. Primary school teachers are trained to integrate information on the prevention and control of bird flu into the existing curricula. In the first phase of the program teachers were directly trained using four core training modules on Avian Influenza and personal and community prevention and control measures and accompanying modules focusing on the teaching techniques and curricula integration. In the second pilot phase an approach to increase coverage is being tested by applying a cascade approach and training advisory teachers that are responsible for trainings in already established teacher working groups – thus being able to multiply the number of those being trained effectively. This approach is currently being further developed and used for teacher training centres in the course of the next months.

There has been considerable success since the since December 2007: More than 2 thousand teachers were trained in seven provinces which means that approximately 50 thousand primary school children have learnt about prevention of bird flu in school. More than 95 thousand parents have received written information that highlights the importance of raising awareness preventing their children and families about bird flu.  

During presentations and subsequent field trips to three schools in the Yogyakarta area study tour participants were provided with the experiences of and lessons identified by GTZ Indonesia in school-based awareness-raising and life-skills development in Indonesia; and an understanding of the issues and priorities in working with school children in the context of AHI management in Asia. The study tour participants on the other hand brought in experiences and good practices from their respective countries.

One critical component of the study tour was the focus group discussions, involving parents, teachers and students at two schools under the BAPS Project, where various issues were surrounding risk prevention were explored. The study tour participants exchanged their views possible socio-cultural factors that might influence the ways that AHI risks are perceived/understood in their communities, economic and social factors that might act as barriers to behavior change and risk reduction, and last but not least factors that might make projects for promoting awareness/risk reduction more successful and sustainable.

Ultimately, the GTZ-ADPC Study Tour in Indonesia was praised as quite successful in promoting an understanding of: 
• successes and challenges of different approaches to behavior change and life-skills development
• key lessons for community-based AHI management, that can be shared with other organizations and practitioners throughout Asia.

The event last week highlighted the importance of cross-country exchange of lessons learnt and good practices. Difficulties in reaching communities as well as the importance of achieving behavior change when developing programs on risk communication and prevention were discussed.

The Study Tour especially highlighted the importance of children as the most receptive group when aiming for behavior change. 

For further information, please contact:
Johanna Knoess on behalf of GTZ or Tel: +62 (0) 21 579 00 334
Email: j_knoess@yahoo.com or Endang Setiawidi: endang.setiawidi@gtz.de 
Janette Lauza-Ugsang on behalf of ADPC Tel: +66 (0) 2 298 0681 to 92 Ext 404  
Email: janette@adpc.net