Nipah Virus Lurks, Ministry Of Health Asks To Beware Illegal Malaysian-Indonesian Pig Trade

Illustration (Photo: Kenneth Schipper Vera / Unsplash)

JAKARTA - Not yet over the struggle against the COVID-19 pandemic, Indonesia is again faced with the potential for the spread of Nipah virus. This type of virus is spread through direct contact with pigs or fruit-eating bats.

"Indonesia must always be alert to the potential for nipah virus transmission from pigs in Malaysia through fruit-eating bats," said Director of Prevention and Control of Vector and Zoonotic Infectious Diseases of the Ministry of Health, Didik Budijanto, as reported by Antara, Wednesday, January 27.

Until now, the incidence of Nipah virus infection has never been reported in Indonesia. In 1999 there was an outbreak of the Nipah virus which caused death in pigs and humans in Peninsular Malaysia.

Indonesia, said Didik, must always be aware of the potential for virus transmission from pigs in Malaysia through fruit-eating bats.

This is because some research shows that there are fruit bats that move regularly from Peninsular Malaysia to Sumatra Island, especially North Sumatra, which is adjacent to Malaysia.

"So there is a possibility of spreading the nipah virus through bats or through the illegal pig trade from Malaysia to Indonesia," said Didik.

As a precautionary measure to prevent transmission of the virus, the government is working to prevent the illegal pig trade from infected areas.

In addition, the government has also implemented procedures to tighten the export and import of pork commodities and products between Indonesia and Malaysia.

"According to the Indonesian Embassy in Malaysia, the Indonesian government only accepts shipments that are accompanied by a health certificate issued by the Malaysian Animal Service Department to certify that the exported pork is healthy," he said.