December 27, 2012

Indonesia culls livestock affected by bird flu infections

Indonesia's Agriculture ministry has culled 112,000 ducks, suspected of contracting a new strain of bird flu viruses in the country.

Director of Animal Health of Agriculture Ministry Pudjatmoko said that the virus was categorised as clad of 2.1.

The Indonesian government plans to take measures to prevent the spread of the new strain of bird flu virus, which is more virulent.

The step was taken following the finding of the new clad of H5N1 virus.

Indonesia has been investigating the origin of the new clad, which is different from the clad of H5N1 virus found in recent years.

The agriculture ministry said that the cause of emergence of the new strains may be due to drift mutation or genetic shift from the previous viruses or importation of poultry from overseas.

So far, the new strain of H5N1 virus on ducks has not caused human fatality, the ministry said.