TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The Directorate General of Livestock and Animal Health at the Agriculture Ministry was set to immediately follow up on several findings of the new swine flu or G4 EA H1N1. Chinese scientists recently published the findings that have the potential to cause a new pandemic.

The Director of Animal Health, Fadjar Sumping Tjatur Rasa, explained that his side was coordinating with officers of the ministry’s Agricultural Quarantine Agency to tighten the surveillance of the entry and outflows of animals and its products in an effort to prevent the virus transmission in Indonesia.

“At the entrance gates, we will later strengthen the examinations on animals, we will also take samples to be tested in laboratories,” Fadjar said in an interview in Jakarta, Thursday, July 2.

He elaborated that the Ministry of Agriculture would also set laboratories for animals in order to detect the virus. He claimed, Indonesia is considered to be advanced in the monitoring of type-A flu virus by using Influenza Virus Monitoring (IVM).

“We will increase the supervision by using IVM facilities which are also assisted by the WHO (World Health Organization),” he added.

At present, Indonesia has eight laboratories to conduct early detection and monitoring of the influenza virus, particularly swine flu. This was also be carried out in vulnerable regions, such as areas near to the entry of animals and their products.

Fadjar continued that the increased surveillance would not only apply to imports of animals and their products from China but also from other countries, given the possibility of delivery transit in other states.

Read: Govt: Suspected Coronavirus Patient in Semarang Dies of Swine Flu

ANTARA