December 15, 2005

Indonesia to work with FAO against bird flu

Indonesia's agriculture minister Anton Apriantono said the country would work with the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), in a bid to curb the spread of bird flu.

FAO experts would assist the Indonesian agricultural ministry in preventive measures against the disease, Apriantono said.

He added that the agricultural ministry would step up preventive measures in regions where the disease is suspected to be present. Monitoring posts would also be set up nationwide.

Apriantono said the country could reduce the virus to the minimum level "within three to five years", but did not elaborate.