June 7, 2012

Indonesian pig farms face threat of Nipah virus

The Indonesian pig farming community, on the border areas between Indonesia and Malaysia, are facing the threat of Nipah virus, according to the animal husbandry and health agency of West Kalimantan province, Indonesia.

The agency suspects that the virus came from Malaysia through bats and mosquitoes as vectors. The head of animal husbandry and health agency of West Kalimantan province said, "It's difficult to prevent mosquitoes and bats from Malaysia so as not to enter border areas of West Kalimantan."

Nipah virus was identified as a previously unknown paramyxovirus and the disease was called Nipah disease from the village in Malaysia where it was first identified.