Indonesia discovered new strains of H5N1 influenza virus

According to a report on December 11, Indonesia has discovered a new, more dangerous strain of the H5N1 avian influenza virus, which has caused hundreds of thousands of ducks to die in recent weeks in some of the islands of Java.

Interesting Director of the Indonesian Ministry of Agriculture, Mr. Syukur Iwantoro said the new virus of the 2.3 strain of H5N1 is at high risk of disease and this is the first time this new strain has been detected in Indonesia. He said the new virus is very different from the previously detected bird flu virus in line 2.1.

Iwantoro said more research is needed to find out if the new strain is a genetic change in viruses found earlier in the country or a strain of influenza. new origin from abroad.

Indonesian health officials have urged local authorities to take measures to prevent the spread of new strains of viruses, such as banning and controlling small motorcycles and trucks used to transport unknown birds. source.

At the same time, the local authorities need to be cautious before the mass deaths of unknown poultry. The characteristic of avian influenza virus is spread from poultry to humans through direct contact. However, medical experts fear that the virus can be easily transmitted from person to person.

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), Indonesia is the country with the highest number of deaths due to bird flu virus infection in the world, with 159 people out of a total of 359 deaths worldwide since the bird flu outbreak. played in 2003.