Jakarta, IO – The World Health Organization (WHO) has updated the list of global pathogens reported to have the potential to trigger epidemics or pandemics, as stated in the document entitled “WHO R&D Blueprint for Epidemics: Pathogens Prioritization, A Scientific Framework For Epidemic And Pandemic Research Preparedness” which was published at the end of last month.
The “Blueprint” emphasizes the importance of international preparedness, collaboration and cooperation in accelerating research and development of medical countermeasures to deal with the threat of epidemics and pandemics in the future. These efforts must be directed through increasing detection, monitoring, and response to infectious disease outbreaks.
Head of the Center for Global Health Policy and Health Technology of the Ministry of Health Bonanza Perwira Taihitu stated that as the leader of G20, Indonesia is actively playing a role in strengthening the global preparedness system to deal with the threat of new infectious diseases. This is in line with efforts at the global and national levels for prevention, preparedness, and response (PPR) to face a pandemic, potentially erupting at any time.
“The Government, through the Ministry of Health is identifying priority pathogens originating from wildlife. This process involves national and international experts at both regional and global levels. Regarding priority pathogens, each country has a priority list of pathogens compiled, based on their respective epidemiological situations; the list is then aligned with WHO global guidelines,” Bonanza explained on Friday (30/8/2024).
From the results of the pathogen identification carried out by the Ministry of Health, the list of priority pathogens compiled follows WHO identification, while several other priorities are determined, based on local epidemiological conditions. The priority list includes various families of viruses and bacteria that are of primary concern.
The virus families that are priority pathogens in Indonesia are the Coronaviridae family (e.g. SARSCoV-2), Orthomyxoviridae (influenza H5N1), Paramyxoviridae (measles, nipah), Flaviviridae (dengue, zika), Filoviridae (ebola, marburg), Bunyaviridae (hanta), Togaviridae (chikungunya), Rhabdoviridae (rabies), Poxviridae (Mpox), Retroviridae (HIV). According to Bonanza, priority pathogens from the above virus families are also part of the WHO focus in its priority list. Some bacterial families are identified as groups of pathogens that need attention.
“WHO priority bacteria related to antimicrobial resistance (AMR) include the families Enterobacteriaceae (e.g. salmonella), Mycobacteriaceae (MTB Complex), Bacillaceae (anthrax), Staphylococcaceae (pneumonia), Neisseriaceae (gonorrhea), and Campylobacter (colitis). The bacterial families included in the priority list that are monitored are Pseudomonadaceae, Leptospiraceae, Vibrionaceae and Yersiniaceae. These pathogens are closely related to various animal species such as bats, primates, rodents and birds, which are often hosts and vectors of disease transmission.”
Preparedness at the National Level
The Ministry of Health will optimize the list of priority pathogens, both viruses and bacteria, identified as an effort to improve preparedness at the national level, including the availability of vaccines, medicines and other mitigation efforts. “Identification of these priorities also strengthens routine surveillance, one aspect of which is through the ILI (Influenza-like Illness) and SARI (Severe Acute Respiratory Infections) programs, as well as the use of public health laboratories (Labkesmas),” he observed.
Read: Experts: Maltodextrin in formula milk is safe, not a cause of diabetes or kidney failure in children
Currently, Level 2 Labkesmas are spread across 232 districts/cities, while Level 3 Labkesmas are spread across 30 provinces. There are also 2 national-level Labkesmas with one laboratory that has Biosafety Level 3 (BSL-3) facilities at the Center for Biological Health Laboratory in Jakarta. “It is hoped that this identification, will increase the awareness of all parties and strengthen the flow of information and early warning systems for developing situations in their regions. The Ministry of Health also applies the One Health approach which emphasizes the importance of cross-sectoral cooperation between human, animal, and environmental health, to address health challenges comprehensively in a healthy and integrated manner.”
Meanwhile, the Director of Surveillance and Health Quarantine of the Ministry of Health, dr. Achmad Farchanny Tri Adryanto, MKM, emphasized that mapping the risk of emerging infectious diseases that have the potential to cause health emergencies is very important in all districts/regions. Moreover, there are still many regions that do not have a risk map of emerging infectious diseases. “The Health Office, together with related stakeholders, needs to carry out risk mapping and make recommendations for follow-up actions that must be carried out, together to increase awareness and response to the potential risk of infectious diseases emerging in their areas,” dr. Farchanny concluded. (est)