National

Government to Destroy Poultry and Livestock in Three Provinces
Friday, 22 July, 2005 | 11:17 WIB

TEMPO Interactive, Jakarta:In anticipation of the spread of the bird flu virus, the Indonesian government is to destroy poultry and livestock at several farms in three provinces, Tangerang, North Sumatra and Jambi.

Minister of Health Siti Fadilah Supari said that these measures were taken following a meeting held at the office of Coordinating Minister for People’s Welfare on Wednesday night (20/07).

This policy was taken considering the three provinces were previously infected by bird flu in April this year.

Quoting a statement made by Minister of Agriculture Anton Apriyantono, Supari stated that poutry and livestock would be destroyed within a three-km radius of the farms.

“This might be carried out next Sunday or Monday,” Supari said at a press conference held in Jakarta on Thursday (21/07).

The government will provide compensation for the destroyed poultry and livestock.

“In Tangerang, the local people have agreed to raise replace pigs with cows,” said Supari.

Georg Peterson, the World Health Organization (WHO) representative in Indonesia, said that the measures taken by the government were correct.

The WHO itself has a procedure for preventing the spread of the bird flu virus by destroying poultry and livestock.

According to Supari, he and Indonesian President Yudhoyono are to conduct a chicken eating campaign.

“It is not dangerous to consume chicken and eggs as long as they are cooked properly,” said Supari.
(Ami Afriatni-Tempo News Room)