Indonesia, Science and policy collaboration: The bird flu case (The Jakarta Post, July 21 2011)

[Giuseppe]

[Source: The Jakarta Post, full text: (LINK).]

Science and policy collaboration: The bird flu case


Yohanes Widodo, Yogyakarta | Thu, 07/21/2011 7:00 AM


The avian influenza virus, or bird flu, which has apparently reemerged, is reportedly spreading at an alarming pace. A total of 64,095 chickens in 17 districts in South Sulawesi have died from the virus as of July 2011 (Kompas, July 13, 2011). It is the widest outbreak of the infection in Indonesia since a series of outbreaks during the period between 2003-2007.

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[Note from the Mod.(IOH): Despite the above statement about the magnitude of current poultry outbreaks in Sulawesi, avian influenza virus H5N1 has never disappeared from Indonesia, even in the time-frame when it was supposed to be only smoldering without causing large epizootics. Since no further OIE updates was sent because the entrenched nature of the disease in the archipelago, the exact figure of the virus is largely unknown. However, the detection of several sporadic human cases of avian influenza A/H5N1 virus infection in different locations demonstrates the widespread presence of the disease in poultry in Indonesia and the persistent risk for a major human outbreak to materialize. Human cases are usually reported by the media and for this reason the importance of newspapers in informing the public in Indonesia and outside is really great and should be recognized as one of the paramount source for health care authorities around the world for avian influenza virus behaviour monitoring.]

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[Laidback Al]

Re: Indonesia, Science and policy collaboration: The bird flu case (The Jakarta Post, July 21 2011)

Giuseppe's note above is accurate and very true. We at FluTrackers are left to monitor human outbreaks through secondary sources such media reports.

The whole article is worth reading. Here is a quote that stands out.

Thus, in the case of bird flu, I found that scientists not only had to struggle with science but also politics. In this condition, the challenge for scientists was more difficult because they were confronted with negligence, ignorance, doubt, uncertainty and political pressure. As a result, they could not do their jobs effectively.

. . .
For politicians, bird flu is a sensitive issue that can ruin the image of the country, so it must be treated and published in a very careful manner. Politicians also require scientists to take a number of steps before they are able to release the result of their scientific research to the media. This included an internal review by the university?s administrators and experts, external review and approval from all relevant government agencies.