June 22, 2006

Bird flu cases in Indonesia more serious than previously thought

An animal health expert Thursday (Jun 22) said bird flu was more widespread in poultry in Indonesia than previously thought.

In the 12 pilot districts on Java, 78 poultry outbreaks were detected from January to May, according to Jeff Mariner, an animal health expert from Tufts University working with the FAO in Jakarta.

"We thought there was dramatic underreporting, but we never imagined that it would be so pervasive," Mariner said on the sidelines of a meeting the world's top bird flu experts, adding that these numbers only represent about a third of actual cases in the area.

Mariner is coordinating a pilot project that involves local surveillance teams conducting field interviews to track backyard poultry that have died suddenly. The teams then use bird flu test kits to identify outbreaks.

The three-day meeting was convened after Indonesia asked for international help to battle the disease. The country has recorded the world's highest number of human bird flu cases this year, and 39 of those infected have died.