Khairun Nisa Berawi S-2 Lecturer in Environmental Science Faculty of Medicine, University of Lampung
STARTING in 2020, Lampost.co noted that there were 30 cases of dengue fever (DBD), especially until mid-January, in Lampung Province. Now, the spreading of this dangerous disease continues to surge.
According to the Head of Bandar Lampung Health Office Edwin Rusli, this phenomenon is an annual cycle. The disease caused by the dengue virus transmitted through the Aedesaegypti mosquito, get increase when the rainy season starts.
This phenomenon becomes interesting because of the influence of seasonal change are the cause of the outbreak. This case increases likely during the rainy season because mosquitos breeding in the pool of rainwater in a dirty house.
Various results of research on the environment discovered the increasing of pathogenicity/degree infectious from an agent. The infectious causes illnesses such as viruses, bacteria, and fungi when the rainy season comes. The infectious can be transmitted directly through the air such as the pandemic of the H1N1 influenza virus in 2009.
The transmission can occur when an infected patient coughs or sneezes without a mask. Therefore, wearing a mask must be included in the management standards for healthcare buildings. Airflow control including ventilation and air conditioning must have clear and strict standards in filtering and strengthening the environment.
A virus is an infectious agent. It can only replicate or reproduce themselves in the living cells of living things. Viral particles consist of DNA or RNA covered in protein. Each type of virus has unique and different characteristics such as H1N1, H5N1, SARS-CoV, and influenza A, even including dengue virus which requires the Aedesaegypti mosquito as an intermediary host.
The transmission of virus occurs directly, indirectly, or through droplets that spread in the air. However, further research is required on the various modes of transmission that occur in each virus.
Environmental Factor
Over the past 50-60 years, there have been many studies about the effects of environmental parameters such as temperature, humidity, sunlight or radiation, and pollution on the airborne infectious organisms (viruses, bacteria, and fungi). The successful various stages of transmission also affected by the degree of viral infection and the development of vectors or intermediary hosts which will eventually be transmitted to others.
Good environmental such as oxygenation, sunlight, humidity(relative and absolute) even atmospheric pollutants can weaken various organisms including infectious viruses in the air. There are lots of experiments using an environmental modification to get some formulas of how rules such as temperature and humidity to help weaken various infectious agents.
As same to controlling pandemic of H1N1 in the hospital, maintaining certain temperatures and humidity will reduce transmission.
Professor Eiichi Yubune, an Associate Professor of the Robotics Systems Department from Tokyo University Japan, has been succeeded in interpreting a recommendation to weaken the disease agents in hospitals or various health care facilities.
He said, the safe range of temperature was between 26oC-27oC with 50% -60% humidity for summer and between 22oC-24oC with 40% -50% humidity in winter. These conditions can reduce the risk of transmission because of the agent weakened.
Indonesia has two seasons, dry and rainy season. When passing through the environmental cycle in the rainy season, the temperature decrease and humidity increase. Then, it is replaced immediately with the dry season which meaninfectious agents won’t be able to develop. This condition is strengthening our environment from various disease agents including virus.
The virus generally damaged within 2 x 24 hours outside the body of the host. However, low temperature and humid environment will help the virus stay alive and infect healthy people when they have body contact with the fluids from the patient that might from coughing or sneezing.
The study found that keeping the temperatures above 60o C (140o F) for more than 60 minutes can deactivate the virus. Unless, the environment is dirty and there are media such as blood, feces, mucus, saliva, or anything that protects the virus to stay alive. High temperatures even in the short term can make a variety of viruses effective. Viruses that contain DNA are found to be more resistant with changes in temperature.
Environmental Investment
To build environmental investments by establishing standards for a healthy environment, with the previous description, should be accompanied by the increase of endurance against the development of viral disease transmission during the rainy season.
Research has found that the importance of vitamin D intake from the sun exposure or supplements is associated with increasing the endurance. Vitamin A is also able to weaken the ability of infection from viruses. Ozone or oxygen-enriched air is also reducing virus levels in the air. In addition, UV rays exposure is not only dangerous for viruses but also for fungi and bacteria.
With all the investments we build from now on, we can hope that we will also get benefit from our health and our families and the loved ones. [PR Team/Angel]
