馬來西亞又再丟臉了！政府砍經費．沒錢研究茲卡？！
不只是孕婦需防茲卡病毒，成人或也會因感染茲卡而腦部受損？茲卡病毒已登陸大馬，我國的醫學研究人員急於展開相關研究，卻苦無經費，只能焦急地等待國外的研究成果為他們解疑惑。
（雪蘭莪．八打靈再也3日訊）不只是孕婦需防茲卡病毒，成人或也會因感染茲卡而腦部受損？茲卡病毒已登陸大馬，我國的醫學研究人員急於展開相關研究，卻苦無經費，只能焦急地等待國外的研究成果為他們解疑惑。
根據英文報章《星報》的報道，馬來亞大學病毒學家沙扎里博士認為，政府不該停止發放傳染性疾病研究的經費。
反之，他說，首相應該考慮在來年的財政預算案中增加研究經費的撥款。
《科學新聞》期刊在數日前刊登了一份對老鼠進行試驗的研究報告，進行研究的紐約洛克菲勒大學及拉荷亞過敏暨免疫學學院科學家發現，腦細胞免疫系統弱的成人容易感染茲卡病毒。
茲卡病毒損腦部
報告根據研究結果預測，成人若感染茲卡病毒，或有可能導致神經幹細胞缺失及腦容量減少，與小頭症相似，產生廣泛發育性殘疾的症狀。
茲卡病毒將帶來腦部受損，也預測會導致認知減退及其他神經疾病，如憂鬱症及阿爾茨海默，即老人痴呆症。
對此，沙扎里博士回應說，許多會感染老鼠腦部的疾病，都不會感染人類的腦部，這是因為老鼠與人類擁有不同的血腦障壁（Blood-brain Barrier）。
「我們需要進行更多研究，才能確定這個病毒有沒有感染人腦的傾向。」
他坦言，大馬的醫學研究人員目前都對研究經費被「大砍」而感到擔憂。
只能依賴外國研究
「目前，我們只能依賴其他國家的研究，這不是件好事，因為這讓我們容易受到（病毒）攻擊，無法做好準備。」
沙扎里表示，去年發生了因茲卡病毒產生小頭症的案例，但大馬卻沒有進行任何與茲卡有關的研究。
較早前，馬大副校長阿旺博士也在一場蚊症工作坊上表示，該校獲得的研究經費被縮減了60%之多。
「這相當不好，我們去年在研究工作上耗費100萬令吉，而今年只有40萬令吉，縮減了超過60%；2017年，我想不會變得更好。」
他感慨地說，研究經費受到重挫是因為大多數人認為研究並不重要。
高教部總監拿督阿斯瑪則說，該部對茲卡病毒的研究報告也相當關注，而大學內研究人員也擁有對茲卡病毒進行研究的能力與資源。
「我們歡迎這方面研究的計劃書，我們也準備好為衛生部提供協助，以解決這個問題。」
文章來源：
星洲日報·2016.09.03
Experts worried about slashed research funding
PETALING JAYA: A recent study on mice suggested that the Zika risk could be more widespread and may not be limited to pregnant women but with funding being slashed drastically, researchers here are concerned.
Last month, reported that the findings made by scientists at The Rockefeller University and La Jolla Institute for Allergy and Immunology suggested that the adult brain cells of those with weakened immune systems might be vulnerable to the infection too.
In adults, the evidence suggested that Zika targets what is called the neural progenitor cells which could lead to loss of the cells and reduced brain volume, similar to that of microcephaly cases, a developmental condition linked to Zika infection in developing fetuses that results in a smaller-than-normal head and a wide variety of developmental disabilities.
Deficits in the adult brain from the attack were associated with cognitive decline and neuropathological conditions, such as depression and Alzheimer’s disease, the study suggested.
Asked to comment on the study, Universiti Malaya virologist Prof Dr Sazaly Abu Bakar said humans are not mice and many viruses that infect mouse brain do not infect the human brain because humans have a different blood-brain barrier.
「More studies need to be done to determine if the virus has a propensity to infect the human brain,」 he said.
However, he said that Malaysian researchers were concerned as funding had been slashed drastically.
「The Government should not stop funding for research in infectious diseases.
「Currently, we are having to rely on research of other countries and this is not good because it keeps us vulnerable and unprepared,」 he said.
Dr Sazaly said that since cases of microcephaly were linked to Zika late last year, hardly any research had been done for people here to be prepared for Zika.
「Laboratory diagnostic tools suitable for use in our setting need to be developed and evaluated,」 he said.
Dr Sazaly said the Prime Minister should look into increasing the research funds in the next budget proposal.
In a workshop on dengue recently, Universiti Malaya deputy Vice-Chancellor/Provost (Academic & International) Prof Awang Bulgiba Awang Mahmud said research funding for the university had been cut by 60%.
「It is bad. Last year, we spent more than RM100mil on research and this year, it is only RM40mil, more than 60% cut.
「For 2017, I think it will be no better,」 he said.
Awang said that research fundings had been particularly hard hit because people deemed that it was not essential.
Higher Education Ministry director-general Prof Datuk Dr Asma Ismail said the ministry was aware and concerned about the reports on the Zika virus.
「We welcome proposals for such research and we are ever ready to assist the Health Ministry in its efforts to address this issue,」 she said.
She said the researchers at the universities have the capacity and capability to conduct research into Zika.
「We currently have universities conducting research on the dengue virus and the mosquitoes which are the primary vectors for the Zika virus,」 she said.