education

Watch out for the West Nile Virus Inflicting Birds

27 August 2007Monday - September 3, 2007

Wrest Nile Virus is one of the Flavivirus group which attacks poultry or birds, particularly wild birds which are not kept in closed cages. Its spread among birds can occur through dirt, bites and dead birds. In humans the virus can spread through organ transplantation, blood transfusion and breast milk. The disease of west Nile virus can attack humans, horses and other mammals. It is generally transmitted by the mostquitoes called Culex pipiens, Culex quinque, and Culex tarsalis. Fortunately, the three types of mostquitoes do not live in Indonesia. In Indonesia, West Nile has not been reported and taken into research, but with the mobility of animals and humans, it is possible that the spread of the disease can happen. Moreover, the mosquito of Aedes species is potential to spread the West Nile Virus.

The disease attacks the nerves, which can cause fatal effect. The virus's attack can be detected from such symptoms as fever, influenza, medium-intense heat, headache, sore throat, tiredness, arthralgia, myalgia, skin rash, lymphadenopathy, and encephalitis. Another symptom is similar to that of polio disease and can be fatal for people of more than 50 years old, according Prof. Ian Gardner from the School of Veterinary Medicine, Universirty of California who, as a guest lecturer, visited the Department of Animal Diseases and Veterinary Community Health, Faculty of Veterinary Science, Bogor Agricultural University, on Friday, 24 August 2007 in IPB's Darmaga Campus.

West Nile Virus was first isolated from the blood of a woman having fever in 1937 in Uganda. In 1950, the first endemic of the virus occurred in Israel. The disease, which was caused by one of flavivirus types spread widely to Africa, West and Central Asia, Europe, Middle East, Oceania and North America.

Ian Gardner presented a lecture with the topic "Surveillance Experiences With West Nile Virus in North America" in front of around 100 teaching staff and students of the Faculty. According to Ian, in 2007 cases of West Nile Virus disease happened in 21 countries. "The medicine for the disease has not yet been found. The only solution to prevent the disease by vaccination", Ian explained. Another method of prevention is the avoidance of standing water source and mosquitos' breeding sites, spray, use of insectant containing DEET, picaridin, or eucalyptus oil when you are outdoor and burning dead birds.

According to Ian, it is important to do a survey of zoonosis deseases to minimaize their spread. The survey consists of an extensive diagnostic test, direct activities (education of people by stakeholders, reduction of mosquito population), control of human and animal diseases, and involvement of all related components

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