Beware of Pes Outbreak, Long-term Threats Can Re-emerge in Indonesia

Illustration - Mouse plague. (ANTARA)

JAKARTA - The plague or bubonic plague is back in the spotlight because it has the potential to reappear in Indonesia. Although it has not been found in humans for a long time, researchers warn that the threat of this disease has not completely disappeared and still needs to be watched out for.

The Center for Public Health and Nutrition Research, National Research and Innovation Agency (BRIN), highlights this potential. BRIN researcher, Ristiyanto, explained the phenomenon known as the silent period, which is a condition when a disease seems to disappear, but in fact it still exists.

"There is a term silent period, which is a period when a disease is not detected for a long time, but it actually still has the potential to reappear," said Ristiyanto.

He added that the pes was suspected of being in that phase. This is supported by the finding that the causative bacteria of the disease, along with vectors and reservoirs such as pinjals and rats, are still found in a number of enzootic areas in Indonesia.

Ristiyanto also emphasized that environmental changes are an important factor that increases the risk of the disease reappearing. Deforestation, land use changes, and population growth have disrupted the balance of the ecosystem, so that the rat's habitat is closer to human settlements.

"This condition increases the chance of transmission of disease through the bite of the mosquito that carries the bacteria," he explained.

Another BRIN researcher, Muhammad Choirul Hidajat, also highlighted the role of climate change in increasing the population of mosquitoes as disease vectors.

"The combination of environmental changes, the presence of vectors and reservoirs, and increased interaction with humans are the main risk factors to be aware of," said Choirul.

He also emphasized that rats as the main reservoir of the Yersinia pestis bacterium are still widely found in various regions of Indonesia. Transmission to humans can occur through the bite of a rat that lives on the body of the animal.

Although there have been no reports of human cases of pes for more than a decade, several areas on the island of Java are still categorized as focus areas, such as Pasuruan, Boyolali, Sleman, and Bandung Regencies.

Choirul reminded that this condition should not be considered trivial.

"The absence of cases does not mean that the disease has completely disappeared," he said.

As a precautionary measure, he recommended strengthening the integrated surveillance system which includes monitoring humans, animals, and disease vectors. In addition, improving environmental sanitation and monitoring the former endemic area are considered important to prevent potential outbreaks in the future.