Posted on 05/13/2005 6:02:51 PM PDT by Termite_Commander
JAKARTA, May 13 (Reuters) - Bird flu has infected pigs in Indonesia, the Agriculture Ministry said on Friday, raising fears of a wider outbreak in the world's fourth-most populous country and Southeast Asia's biggest economy.
The ministry conducted tests on pigs after local scientists reported that pigs in several farms on the main island of Java were infected.
"We will continue to take some measures to prevent the avian influenza virus from spreading," said Agriculture Minister Anton Apriyantono.
"As soon as we have enough details, we will explain it further."
So far there have been no reports of people in Indonesia being infected with the H5N1 bird flu virus. Since 2003, 36 Vietnamese, 12 Thais and four Cambodians have been killed by the H5N1 strain.
Pigs can carry human flu viruses, which can combine with the avian viruses, swap genes, and create virulent new strains, health experts say.
They fear the virus could mutate into a form which can pass easily among humans and trigger a global pandemic that could kill millions.
Specimens from Indonesian poultry workers have been sent for tests in Hong Kong as a precaution, officials said.
"At the moment, the government doesn't have an effective way to prevent the disease being transmitted from fowl to pigs. There is no vaccination yet for pigs," said Tri Satya Putri Naipospos, director of animal health at the ministry.
New cases of H5N1 have re-emerged on a relatively small scale in some parts of Indonesia since it was first found in late 2003.
A total of 281,730 fowl either died from the virus or were culled in the January-March period, latest government data show. Since late 2003, Indonesia has lost around 8.9 million fowl.
Indonesian authorities insist that, overall, the deadly disease is under control.
"Bird flu found in Indonesian pigs"
Hmmn, why did a certain WV senator come to mind?
Has pig flu been found in Indonesian birds?
Influenza A strains (of which the so-called "bird flu" is one) are constantly circulating between birds, swine, and humans. So yes, strains of influenza A may originate in pigs and then be transmitted to birds. However, new strains generally begin in birds and then travel to pigs and humans. This is because, of the different types of antigens that may be found on the outside of the virus particle, there is the greatest number of different antigens circulating in the bird population.
That the H5N1 strain is now being found in pigs indicates that the strain is increasing in its capacity to jump species. The close interaction of birds, swine, and humans that often occurs in various places in Asia is the reason that the pandemic influenza strains almost always originate in Asia.
ping.
Thanks....I think.
Thought you might want to see this.
A total of 281,730 fowl either died from the virus or were culled in the January-March period, latest government data show. Since late 2003, Indonesia has lost around 8.9 million fowl.
Indonesian authorities insist that, overall, the deadly disease is under control.
Why don't I believe them.
If those people would just quit living with them (or like them) they wouldn't be having this problem.
Someone has to teach them that the barn is for animals, and a separate dwelling is required for humans. plus they feed their animals everything, ignoring the rules on DON'T FEED ANIMALS ANIMALS!.
I hope all foodstuffs from that place is BANNED from comming here. Cross species diseases are a serious and dangerous problem!. But, we have thousands of people comming and going from there a day, all it takes is ONE jihadist to infect himself and come here, spend an evening in a gay bar in SF.
Is it determined that they have it when they grow wings?
FReepmail me if you want on or off my health and science ping list.
Just as long they didn't find it in any "long pigs".
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