January 27, 2012

Indonesia reminds public on bird flu alert

The public has been reminded by the general director of livestock and animal health of Indonesia to be cautious of bird flu during this rainy season, Syukur Iwantoro.

From January 1-20, 2012, Iwantoro said that bird flu cases in poultry have been found in seven villages in seven districts in six provinces. The six provinces are Central Java (in Sragen and Brebes), East Java (in Lamongan), Riau (in Pekanbaru), East Kalimantan (in Panajam Paser Utara), Jambi (in Muaro Jambi) and South Sulawesi (in Sidrap).

"Of the six provinces, the number of dead birds is as much as 1,073 birds. The largest number is in Sidrap, a total of 723 laying hens died," Iwantoro informed.

Concerning cases of bird flu in humans that occurs in Jakarta, the ministry of health has claimed that two people died of bird flu. The first, a 23-year old man, on January 7, 2012 and the second, a 5-year old girl, on January 16, 2012.