February 14, 2014

Indonesia's East Java confirms bird flu outbreak

Infection by bird flu (H5N1) was confirmed as the cause of deaths of thousands of birds in Pakis village, Durenan district Trenggalek regency, East Java, Indonesia.

"Laboratory test results on 20 samples of bird carcasses confirm they were bird-flu virus positive," head of Trenggalek Animal Health Centre Budi Satriawan said.

Budi explained that the virus that killed the birds was identical to that which had infected chickens and other poultry within the area, and was potentially harmful to humans.

Budi issued a recommendation letter ordering a mass cull and destruction of all poultry in the affected farm after the test results.

Budi added that his team, after further investigation, would also cull other poultry farms to be on the safe side.

Poultry within a 200-meter radius of the original location where the bird flu virus was detected will be vaccinated and disinfectant would be sprayed on all farms, poultry and otherwise.

Previously thousands of birds died in Pakis village, Durenan regency. A total of 7,000 birds were culled following the bird flu outbreak.