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Source: http://old.thejakartapost.com/detailnational.asp?fileid=20080601.A01&irec=0
New foundation to fight influenza
Emmy Fitri, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta
Doctors and researchers are joining hands to establish a foundation aimed at supporting the government in educating the public on preventing influenza.
One of the initiators, Syamsurizal Djauzi from Cipto Mangunkusumo General Hospital, said Saturday there was little data currently available in the country to illustrate how serious the social and economic impacts of an influenza epidemic could be.
"We don't have the data because there's never been a serious effort made to collect data about the impacts," Syamsurizal said.
The latest data from the World Health Organization (WHO) shows there are three to five million severe cases of influenza worldwide per year, causing between 250,000 and 500,000 deaths.
"...not to mention the financial burden that has to be spent to cure influenza. In Europe alone, the total cost for seasonal influenza reaches 20 million euro every year," he said.
Syamsurizal said people living with chronic cardiovascular or lung diseases were most at risk of dying from the disease, while elderly people were at the highest risk of developing further complications.
Professor Cissy Kartasasmita, also an initiator, said it was high time for the country -- which is hardest hit by the spread of the avian influenza -- to form such a foundation.
"The foundation is inviting professionals, fellow doctors and scientists to group and pool efforts. The influenza virus is a rapidly changing one, and we need more heads to figure out how to prevent it," Cissy said.
Unlike in the Western hemisphere, the seasonal influenza period in Indonesia and many other Southeast Asian countries is commonly underestimated. Although Indonesia has a year-long seasonal flu period, the vaccine, considered the most effective preventative measure, is not widely used.
"The vaccine is so far the best weapon to prevent influenza, but here it's relatively expensive. Other important measures are much more simple and affordable, (such as) hygienic practices," Cissy said during a press conference during the foundation's launch Saturday.
The event was held after a Roche Pharmaceutical's clinical symposium on influenza, which featured leading virologist from the U.K. John Oxford and medical director of SAA Netcare Travel Clinics Stephen Toovey.
New foundation to fight influenza
Emmy Fitri, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta
Doctors and researchers are joining hands to establish a foundation aimed at supporting the government in educating the public on preventing influenza.
One of the initiators, Syamsurizal Djauzi from Cipto Mangunkusumo General Hospital, said Saturday there was little data currently available in the country to illustrate how serious the social and economic impacts of an influenza epidemic could be.
"We don't have the data because there's never been a serious effort made to collect data about the impacts," Syamsurizal said.
The latest data from the World Health Organization (WHO) shows there are three to five million severe cases of influenza worldwide per year, causing between 250,000 and 500,000 deaths.
"...not to mention the financial burden that has to be spent to cure influenza. In Europe alone, the total cost for seasonal influenza reaches 20 million euro every year," he said.
Syamsurizal said people living with chronic cardiovascular or lung diseases were most at risk of dying from the disease, while elderly people were at the highest risk of developing further complications.
Professor Cissy Kartasasmita, also an initiator, said it was high time for the country -- which is hardest hit by the spread of the avian influenza -- to form such a foundation.
"The foundation is inviting professionals, fellow doctors and scientists to group and pool efforts. The influenza virus is a rapidly changing one, and we need more heads to figure out how to prevent it," Cissy said.
Unlike in the Western hemisphere, the seasonal influenza period in Indonesia and many other Southeast Asian countries is commonly underestimated. Although Indonesia has a year-long seasonal flu period, the vaccine, considered the most effective preventative measure, is not widely used.
"The vaccine is so far the best weapon to prevent influenza, but here it's relatively expensive. Other important measures are much more simple and affordable, (such as) hygienic practices," Cissy said during a press conference during the foundation's launch Saturday.
The event was held after a Roche Pharmaceutical's clinical symposium on influenza, which featured leading virologist from the U.K. John Oxford and medical director of SAA Netcare Travel Clinics Stephen Toovey.