February 13, 2009
Bird flu kills poultry in Indonesian province
The dreaded bird flu has killed hundreds of poultry in four sub districts in Bantul District, Yogyakarta Province in Indonesia, reports Antara News Agency.
Sri Budoyo, an official of the Bantul district marine, fishery and animal husbandry, said districts affected by H5N1 are Bambanglipuro, Jetis, Piyungan and Bantul.
Rapid tests conducted revealed that dead poultry were positive of the H5N1 virus, he said.
Budoyo said the H5N1 virus threat is high during the rainy months of January to March.
The official also said Bantul district is already running out of disinfectants for backyard farms.
There were 71 bird flu cases in 2007 and 32 cases in 2008 in Bantul.
Some 133 chickens believed to have also caught bird flu were slaughtered at a hamlet in Bali's Badung district last Tuesday (Feb 10).
The culling was done after chickens belonging to Sibang residents suddenly died.
