12-8-2023 (JAKARTA) Professor Tjandra Yoga Aditama, Chair of the honorary board of the Indonesian Society of Respirology (PDPI), has emphasised the need for Indonesia to take a proactive role in averting a potential influenza pandemic within the ASEAN region.
Speaking at the “Anticipate the Possibility of Influenza Pandemic” discussion, Aditama stressed Indonesia’s pivotal role in leading influenza surveillance efforts, particularly as the nation currently holds the ASEAN chairmanship.
Reflecting on history, Aditama highlighted the catastrophic 1918 influenza pandemic that claimed the lives of approximately 20 million to 50 million people worldwide. He drew a parallel to the H1N1 influenza pandemic declared by the World Health Organization (WHO) on June 11, 2009, which concluded on August 10, 2010.
Aditama differentiated between the influenza and COVID-19 pandemics, noting that the latter remains ongoing, despite WHO’s May 5, 2023 announcement that COVID-19 no longer constitutes a global health emergency.
During the discussion, Aditama highlighted the rising cases of bird flu in animals across numerous countries, with some instances even emerging in humans. While human cases of bird flu have been under control, the spread within animal populations raises the risk of transmission to humans.
In Aditama’s view, Indonesia’s ASEAN chairmanship offers a platform to initiate collaborative efforts in pandemic prevention. He underscored the importance of establishing partnerships between nations in accordance with WHO, the Food and Agricultural Organization (FAO), and the World Organization for Animal Health (WOAH) guidelines.
Drawing from his own involvement in the development of the Pandemic Influenza Preparedness Framework, Aditama urged continuous worldwide implementation of influenza surveillance systems, particularly in Indonesia.
Aditama also advocated for the advancement of various forms of influenza vaccines, acknowledging the need for ongoing research in this domain. He stressed the significance of ongoing dialogue and dissemination of information related to influenza among healthcare professionals, the public, and policymakers.
