Apart From The Nipah Virus, This Is A Line Of DiseasesThat Has The Potential To Become A New Pandemic

Ilustrasi (Photo by Isaac Quesada on Unsplash)

JAKARTA - The COVID-19 pandemic is not over yet. Now it is feared that the Nipah virus could become a threat that could re-emerge a new pandemic in the world.

In connection with this, the Indonesian Ministry of Health has participated to be aware of the potential for the Nipah virus to become a new pandemic. This is because the death rate for the Nipah virus is said to be very high, ranging from 40 to 75 percent. Moreover, this virus is known to have no cure.

"Indonesia must always be alert to the potential for Nipah virus transmission from pigs in Malaysia through fruit-eating bats", explained the Director of Prevention and Control of Vector Infectious and Zoonotic Diseases of the Ministry of Health, Didik Budijanto, as reported by Antara, Thursday, January 28.

He explained, currently, the incidence of Nipah virus infection has never been reported in Indonesia. Even so, the government remains alert to the potential for virus transmission from pigs in Malaysia through fruit-eating bats.

Apart from the Nipah virus, there are several other viruses that also have the potential to become a pandemic, here are the summaries:

Symptoms of G4 virus infection

Researchers say that people infected with the G4 virus will experience symptoms, such as sneezing, wheezing, coughing, and a total weight loss of between 7.3 percent and 9.8 percent of body mass.

Then, the Mayo Clinic also reports the characteristics of other swine flu infections in the human body, including fever (not necessarily), chills, sore throat, headache, aches, fatigue, runny nose, watery or red eyes, diarrhea to nausea, and vomiting.

G4 swine flu virus

Several years ago, the world was shocked by the emergence of the G4 swine flu virus in China. This virus is still related to H1N1 which had an epidemic in 2009.

However, the World Health Organization (WHO) insists that the G4 virus is not a new virus and is under close surveillance.

Disease X

Scientists warn that COVID-19 is not the last pandemic humanity will face. According to Dr. Kenneth Iserson, professor emeritus from the University of Arizona, there are various infectious diseases that have the potential to become 'Disease X'.

Disease X itself is a term for an infectious disease that is not yet known to humans and can become a serious threat if it spreads throughout the world.

"It is possible that other unknown infectious diseases are already in circulation and could have devastating implications," said Dr. Iserson, quoted by The Straight Times.