On Saturday, May 16, 2009, Center for Indonesian Veterinary Analytical Studies (CIVAS), IPB branch of the Indonesian Veterinary Student Association (IMAKAHI), and Student Executive Body (BEM) of the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine of Bogor Agricultural University (FKH-IPB) held a Scientific Discussion on Swine Influenza at the campus of the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine of Bogor Agricultural University in Darmaga. The discussion was attended by almost 200 participants; most of the participants were veterinary students from the faculty. Speakers in the discussion were Dr. Drh. Surachmi Setiyaningsih, MS from the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine of Bogor Agricultural University and Dr. Drh. Darminto from the Research Institute for Veterinary Science (Bbalitvet) Bogor.

The first speaker, Dr. Drh. Surachmi Setiyaningsih, MS, gave an overview on influenza viruses which are within the Orthomyxoviridae family. In her presentation, she explained the specific characteristic of this virus, which is antigenic variation. Antigenic variation could occur through antigenic shift or antigenic drift; this is what causes influenza viruses to change from time to time. In the history of swine influenza, several strains were found to be reassortants of swine influenza with human and/or avian influenza viruses. The latest influenza outbreak which started in April 2009 in Mexico is publicly named influenza A(H1N1) because it is transmitted from human to human. But, since genetic sequencing has shown the virus to be swine influenza, scientifically it is now called Swine-Origin Influenza A (H1N1) Virus (SoIV).

The second speaker, Dr. Drh. Darminto, gave an overview on swine influenza, starting from the history, etiology, transmission, clinical signs, and diagnosis, to its treatment, prevention, and control. Since the outbreak in Mexico, the Indonesian government has implemented measures to prevent the disease from entering Indonesia. The measures taken were temporarily banning importation of swine and pork products from infected areas, screening the health of people coming into Indonesia at Airports and Harbors, increasing monitoring to detect possible illegal importation, socializing the hazards of swine influenza to the public, increasing the biosecurity of swine farms, and conducting surveillance of swine influenza in swine farms. Swine influenza surveillance is conducted by the Research Institute for Veterinary Science (Bbalitvet) and all Disease Investigation Centers (BBVet and BPPV) in Indonesia. Bbalitvet Bogor was assigned to conduct surveillance for DKI Jakarta, West Java and Banten provinces and had detected influenza A H5N1, H1N1 classic swine, and H1N1 seasonal human flu in samples collected. (Rie)