September 22, 2005

Indonesia considers relocating poultry farms

The Indonesian government is considering relocating poultry farms away from residential areas as part of its new poultry farming policies, to reduce the risk of animal-to-human transmission of pathogenic bird flu virus H5N1, the country's Minister of Agriculture Anton Apriyanto said on Sep 21.

Currently, only regional administrations have the authority to relocate poultry farms.

Indonesia's suspected bird flu cases among humans have now risen to 11 even as the disease claimed on Sep 21 another likely victim, a five-year girl showing bird flu symptoms. The government had also on Sep 19 declared the outbreak in the country an "extraordinary" situation.

The latest suspected patient, a 15-year-old boy with high fever, acute pneumonia and other flu-like problems, was admitted to a northern Jakarta hospital on early Sep 22 morning, health ministry spokesman Sumardi said.