UNAIR NEWS – The Airlangga Diseases Prevention and Research Center – One Health Collaborating Center (ADPRC-OHCC) held a talk show discussing the links between wildlife, pandemics, and the One Health approach. The event took place on Thursday (Feb. 20, 2025) at the Tandjung Adiwinata Auditorium, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine (FKH), Universitas Airlangga (UNAIR) MERR-C Campus. Organized in collaboration with Udayana OHCC, the event focused on “Synergizing Efforts for Zoonotic Disease Prevention in East Java.” The discussion featured three expert speakers: Dr. Ichwan Muslih, S.Si., M.Si., from the East Java Natural Resources Conservation Agency (BBKSDA); Drh. Farida Camallia Zenal, M.Sc., from the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) Indonesia; and Prof. Dr. Fedik Abdul Rantam, Drh., a professor at UNAIR’s Faculty of Veterinary Medicine.
Wildlife conservation and zoonotic disease mitigation
Dr. Ichwan Muslih explained that 70% of emerging inf ectious zoonotic diseases originate from wildlife due to increasing human interaction with animals. This growing proximity is largely driven by human settlements encroaching on conservation forests and cultural traditions involving the domestication of wild animals.
Pathogens can spill over from wildlife to humans through activities such as hunting, human-wildlife conflict, and the consumption of wild animal meat. Conversely, spillback transmission—from humans to animals—has been documented in cases such as COVID-19 infections in tigers, rabies in elephants, and tuberculosis in primates. “Indonesia is a hotspot for emerging infectious diseases, including those with pandemic potential,” he stated.
East Java also serves as a key hub in Indonesia’s illegal wildlife trade. Several conservation institutions provide temporary shelter for confiscated animals, requiring strict biosecurity measures. Managing zoonotic diseases in wildlife involves identifying pathogens both in natural habitats (in situ) and in captivity (ex situ).
FAO’s role in managing zoonotic risks
Drh. Farida Camallia Zenal, M.Sc., emphasized the importance of the One Health approach, which requires collaboration across multiple sectors. Successfully implementing this strategy demands consistent and sustained efforts from all stakeholders. She also addressed misconceptions regarding Indonesia’s rich biodiversity, which is often mistakenly linked to a higher risk of zoonotic outbreaks. Instead, she explained, the loss of genetic diversity (plasma nutfah) disrupts existing ecosystems and food chains. “Biodiversity itself is not the problem. For instance, local durian production is declining due to excessive bat hunting,” she noted.
She also stressed the importance of the pre-emergence phase in preventing unexpected disease outbreaks. Because emerging pathogens are unpredictable, early detection and mitigation strategies are critical.
Vaccine research and preventive strategies
Prof. Dr. Fedik Abdul Rantam, Drh., discussed vaccine development as a key preventive measure against infectious diseases. Vaccines are formulated from viral proteins or antigenic substances that stimulate the immune system to produce antibodies, neutralizing the virus. As advancements in immunology continue, vaccines are evolving to become more effective and adaptable. One of the latest innovations is mRNA vaccine technology, which represents a significant breakthrough in the field. “In 2020, Indonesia faced a major challenge due to its lack of vaccine production infrastructure. However, we have since gained valuable experience and are now better prepared,” he concluded.
Author: Azhar Burhanuddin
Editor: Yulia Rohmawati
