Indonesian Health Ministry on Alert for New Swine Flu Strain

KOMPAS.com – Indonesia's Ministry of Health officials tackling the Covid-19 pandemic are bracing for yet another potential health crisis as they face the prospect of a new strain of swine flu making its way to Indonesia.

Reports that Chinese scientists are looking into a swine flu strain, which is formally known as G4 EA H1N1 or G4 for short, feared to be transmissible from pigs to humans have heightened alert among local health officials.

“We are investigating the possibility of zoonosis [in swine flu], or transmission of the disease from animals to humans,” the Antara state news agency quoted Health Ministry Director-General for Vector Borne and Zoonotic Diseases Siti Nadia Tarmizi as saying Thursday, July 2.

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“Among the people that we are focusing on are those who work in pig farms, particularly those who have been having the flu recently. The health ministry is obliged to inform them as they are vulnerable to the G4.”

Nadia added that she will notify public health care centers and coordinate epidemiological research with the Agriculture Ministry’s Animal Husbandry Directorate General.

Uncanny similarities

“The G4 is similar to Covid-19 because they can develop and grow in human respiratory systems,” said Nadya.

“But we have not received reports about [the G4 strain] transmitting to [pigs] or [from pigs] to humans. We already have swine flu vaccines for pigs and other forms of animal influenzas for livestock, as well as vaccines for humans.”

Nadia assured there is no cause for the public to worry.

“[Swine flu] is a self-limiting disease, which means that those who contract it will heal by themselves. The World Health Organization classified swine flu as an ordinary flu.”

ANTARA FOTO/DIDIK SUHARTONO Officials in PPEs take samples for a Covid-19 Rapid Test

Keeping vigilant

Nadia maintained that the health ministry will not be complacent despite the lack of reports about G4 transmission to humans.

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“We will continue urging for standard procedures, such as washing hands, maintaining hygiene and other preventive measures,” she said.