ANALYSIS OPPORTUNITIES OF THE DISTRIBUTION OF G4 PIG FLU VIRUS
IN INDONESIA
2020 National Youth Research Competition
Juwita Widia Wati
SMA IT Cahaya Bangsa
wafiq.rahma18@gmail.com
Introduction
The swine flu virus coded G4 EA H1N1 reported from
sciencemag.org (2020) is a unique mixture of three lineages,
namely one similar to the strain found in European and
Asian birds, the H1N1 strain that caused the 2009 pandemic,
and the North American H1N1 which has the gene, from
avian, human, and swine flu viruses. Meanwhile, humans
have absolutely no immunity against this virus. Apart from
that, it is also capable of replicating in human cells and
causing more serious symptoms in ferrets than other viruses.
In a study entitled "Prevalent Eurasian avian-like H1N1
swine influenza virus with 2009 pandemic viral genes
facilitating human infection", the researchers also reported
that this virus has been transmitted from animals to humans.
Based on the study, it was recorded that as many as 10.4 per
cents of people who work in pig farms have been infected
with the flu. In addition, 4.4 per cent of the general Chinese
population has also been exposed to the virus or is infected
with the G4 swine flu.
Researchers from China Agricultural University discovered
the virus after analyzing nearly 30,000 nose swabs from pigs
in slaughterhouses between 2011-2018. Through
examinations conducted by researchers, 179 viruses were
successfully isolated. The majority of them are the G4 virus
or one of the other 5 G strains.``Since 2016 the G4 virus has
shown a sharp increase and is the predominant genotype
circulating in pigs detected in at least 10 provinces, '' the
scientists wrote in their report in the journal Proceedings of
the National Academy of Sciences.
Over the past 8 years (2011-2018), experts took 30,000 nasal
swab samples from the largest pork slaughterhouse in
China's 10 provinces. The scientists then conducted
experiments on ferrets (a type of ferret). These animals are
often used in flu virus experiments because they cause
symptoms that are almost similar to humans. Especially
fever, cough and sneeze. From these experiments, it was
found that the G4 virus infection rate was very high.
This swine flu has spread throughout the world since
appearing in Mexico and is the first flu outbreak in 40 years.
Although this virus originated in pigs, it has now become a
disease that attacks humans and can be spread from person to
person by coughing or sneezing. The symptoms of swine flu
in humans are similar to those of the common cold, with a
high fever of around 38 ° C as the main symptom. Body heat
is accompanied by coughing, sore throat, pain throughout the
body and joints. Some people who get H1N1 (Virus A) also
suffer from nausea and diarrhoea.
Quoted from Sciencemag.org, the G4 virus has shown a
sharp increase since 2016 and is the dominant genotype in
circulation in pigs detected in at least 10 provinces, "said
lead author Sun Honglei quoted from Science Mag.
Ketut (2020) explained that the G4 swine flu virus has the
potential to become the next pandemic because it is easily
contagious. The Ministry of Agriculture (Kementan) through
the Directorate General of Animal Husbandry and Animal
Health (Ditjen PKH) explained that the G4 swine flu virus
has not been reported in Indonesia. The PKH Directorate
General, Ketut Diarmita, admitted that he would increase
vigilance to reduce the potential for the virus to enter and
spread in Indonesia. "So people don't have to worry about
this swine flu." The government will continue to monitor and
try to prevent this disease from occurring in Indonesia, "said
Ketut.
Some experts say that the G4 swine flu virus doesn't need to
be overly concerned, but still be on alert. According to the
Virologist from Udayana University, Professor Ngurah
Mahardhika, this virus has the shocking power to trigger a
pandemic. "If 10% of people tested already have antibodies
(swine flu virus) the jumping species has been going on for a
long time." And the human to human transmission has been
happening for a long time. That is what I learned. It doesn't
bother me, ”said the prof. Mahardhika.
Considering the current problems related to the spread of the
swine flu virus, researchers will analyze data on the spread
of the G4 Swine Flu Virus around the world and calculate
the opportunities for the virus to enter and spread in
Indonesia so that it can be used as a reference in preventing
the virus in Indonesia.
Research Methodology
1. Type of research
This research is quantitative research which emphasizes data
analysis as well as qualitative. which is a literature study
(library research) which uses books and other literature as
the main object (Hadi, 1995: 3). The type of research used is
qualitative, namely, research that produces information in
the form of notes and descriptive data contained in the text
being studied (Mantra, 2008: 30).
2. Primary sources
The Primary source is a reference which is used as the main
source. The main source of this research is data on the spread
of the G4 swine flu virus in the world.
3. Secondary Sources
Secondary sources are supporting references and
complements for primary sources. Supporting sources in this
study are data and literature relevant to the issue of the G4
swine flu virus.
4. Data Collection Methods
In library research, the method used to collect research data
is in the form of data and literature that has been selected,
searched, presented and analyzed. The data source of this
research is looking for literature data whose substance
requires processing action philosophically and theoretically.
Literature study here is a literature study without an
empirical test (Muhadjir, 1998: 159). The data presented is
data in the form of words which require processing to be
concise and systematic (Mujadhir, 1998: 29).
5. Data Analysis Techniques
The Analysis is a series of simple efforts on how research
data is in turn developed and processed into a simple
framework (Zed, 2004: 70). The data that has been collected
is then analyzed to obtain information, but first, the data is
selected on the basis of its reliability (Mantra, 2008: 128). In
this study, using an analytical technique in the form of
content analysis. This analysis is a scientific analysis of the
message content of data (Muhadjir, 1998: 49).
Result and Analysis
1. Data on the spread of the G4 virus
In 2020, the Proceedings of the National Academy of
Sciences (PNAS) in April 2020 (submitted for review on 9
December 2019). The research was carried out by a team of
23 scientists, some of them from the Agricultural University
of China, the Shandong Agricultural University and the
Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention. It is
known that in China the population is large enough that they
carry out fairly good surveillance. They then reported and
observed swine flu as a follow-up to the H1N1 pandemic
that occurred in 2009. The H1N1 virus was also responsible
for the 1918 pandemic.
The team collected 29,918 pig nasal swabs from
slaughterhouses in 10 provinces from 2011 to 2018. As a
result, they found 179 types of swine flu viruses and 165 of
them were identified as EA H1N1, seven viruses were
identified as PDM 09 / H1N1, one type of virus was
identified as CS H1N1, four types of viruses as H3N2, and
two types of viruses as H9N2. The EA H1N1 virus, apart
from being the most widespread, is also found every year.
This is different from, for example, the seven types of virus
PDM 09 / H1N1 which were only found in 2011 and CS
H1N1 and H3N2 which were only found for a few years.
The researchers conducted further research on EA H1N1 and
classified it into six types based on genotypes, including G1-
G6. One of the most striking is the G4. This type of virus
was first discovered in a 2013 sample in southern China.
2. Mode of Transmission of the G4 Virus to Humans
It is known that in 2016, infection due to this virus increased
sharply and became the most prevalent genotype in the 10
provinces studied. Then the question arises, how does the
virus spread in humans?
To answer the question of whether G4 EA H1N1 is
contagious to humans, researchers took four samples of the
virus. As a result, all samples bind well to the SAα2, 6Gal
receptor. SAα2, 6Gal receptors are in the lining cells of the
human respiration. If the virus attaches to these receptors, the
virus can enter other cells in the human body. In addition, all
EA H1N1 viruses are also known to bind to human epithelial
tracheal. Thus, these results suggest that the G4 EA H1N1
virus binds to the SAα2, 6Gal receptors as well as humans. A
prerequisite for infecting human cells. Researchers also
investigated the ability of G4 EA H1N1 replication in normal
human epithelial bronchial cells (NHBE) and epithelial
alveolar cells (A549). For information, these two cells are
the main targets of the influenza virus. As a result, G4 EA
H1N1 was able to self-replicate at the same level as the PDM
09 / H1N1 virus in NHBE cells and mostly occurred 30
hours-60 hours after infection. Similar findings also occurred
in A549 cells.
In exploring these findings, researchers took 338 samples
from workers in 15 pig farms and 230 samples from ordinary
citizens for serological testing. As a result, 35 (10.4 per cent)
pig breeders and 10 (4.4 per cent) ordinary citizens
developed antibodies against the new virus strain. Tests also
showed that the human body's immunity to seasonal flu
contains no protection against the G4 strain. To investigate
the potential for human-to-human transmission, researchers
conducted experiments on civets - an animal that is often
used for experiments on the infection and spread of influenza
viruses in humans. As a result, the G4 EA H1N1 virus can
spread in civet groups through direct contact and droplets.
This virus also causes severe symptoms in infected civets,
such as fever, sneezing, wheezing, and coughing.
In the report, it was said that until now there were five cases
with symptoms such as contracting EA H1N1. The last two
cases occurred in 2016 and 2019 in people aged 46 years and
children 9 years. The Genetic analysis said the 2 cases were
caused by "viruses like G4 EA H1N1" and epidemiological
studies found that the two people had neighbours who raised
pigs. Until now, there is no evidence that the virus can be
transmitted from human to human. However, the researchers
cautioned, "the G4 EA H1N1 virus has essential signs of
adaptation to infect humans. Controlling the existing G4 EA
H1N1 virus in pigs and closely monitoring the working
population of pig farms must be done quickly.
Chance of the G4 Virus to be a New Pandemic
The discovery of a new strain of the H1N1 virus is certainly
unsettling considering that the COVID-19 pandemic is still
not under control. The latest data records that ± 377,541
people in Indonesia have been confirmed that this disease
also originated in China. 301,006 of them recovered and
12,959 others died.
Director-General of Animal Husbandry and Animal Health
of the Ministry of Agriculture I Ketut Diarmita said that the
G4 EA H1N1 virus has not been found in Indonesia. This
was based on the results of surveillance and genetic analysis
by the Medan Veterinary Center and the Wates Veterinary
Center. Ketut said the Ministry of Agriculture with USAID
and FAO have developed influenza virus monitoring to
monitor influenza mutations since 2014. This tool is used for
early detection. The Ministry of Agriculture has also
conducted risk-based surveillance for swine flu based on the
characteristics of the virus.
Even so, his party is still preparing if one day this virus
enters Indonesia. One way is to issue circular letters to
increase cooperation, alertness, and contingency plans. "This
circular invites all related parties to increase cooperation, be
aware of, and prepare contingency plans for the possibility of
entering and emerging G4 EA H1N1 in Indonesia," said
Ketut in a written statement, while the Director-General of
Disease Prevention and Control of the Ministry of Health is
also the official spokesman. government for handling
COVID-19 dr. Achmad Yurianto has also submitted a
circular to health offices throughout Indonesia to increase
awareness of this disease.
With the above considerations, there will be an opportunity
for the G4 EA H1N1 swine flu virus to spread in Indonesia
due to a large number of pig farms in Indonesia and the
presence of clusters of residents from countries exposed to
the virus. However, considering the current condition of the
Covid-19 Pandemic which is still showing an increasing
trend, Indonesia is quite alert to viruses with symptoms
similar to influenza and Covid-19. Due to the effect of
vigilance on the spread of the Covid-19 virus, a fairly strict
check is applied at the entrance to international arrivals
visiting Indonesia, which causes the chance of
entering/spreading the G4 virus to be quite low.
Some of these things apply for the near future as long as
there is still a trend for the Covid-19 virus. Then what if
some time will come when the Covid-19 pandemic no longer
exists? Prevention of spread can be done by:
a. Keep life clean
b. The livestock service office continues to provide periodic
vaccines to livestock, especially those imported from abroad,
c. Continue to implement health checks for everyone who
comes from abroad.
d. Tighten the selection of imported food goods.
e. Provide vaccines regularly to the public
f. If there is an issue of a dangerous disease spreading in
Indonesia, the government should have started to increase
awareness and protection of the community.
Conclusion
The opportunity for the spread of the G4 EA H1N1 swine flu
virus in Indonesia during the Covid-19 pandemic is still low
due to the high level of alertness and handling by the
government and relatively similar symptoms. This is also
supported by the results of valid studies that show the
potential for human-to-human spread of the G4 EA H1N1
virus. When one day the covid-19 pandemic has ended, the
spread of the G4 EA H1N1 virus can still be prevented by:
a. Keep life clean
b. The livestock service office continues to provide periodic
vaccines to livestock, especially those imported from abroad,
c. Continue to implement health checks for everyone who
comes from abroad.
d. Tighten the selection of imported food goods.
e. Provide vaccines regularly to the public

f. If there is an issue of a dangerous disease spreading in

Indonesia, the government should have started to increase
awareness and protection of the community.

References