National

Bird Flu Virus Worsens: Is Being Identified
Tuesday, 20 September, 2005 | 21:35 WIB

TEMPO Interactive, Jakarta:The Indonesian government is identifying the fowls that are spreading the bird flu virus in Indonesia. Indonesian Minister of Health Siti Fadilah Supari said that chickens might not spread the virus because the birds within the cage of Ragunan Zoo are also infected.

Supari said that the government would continue establishing cooperation with the World Health Organization (WHO) and a health institute from the United States. The Indonesian government is prepared to use funds amounting to Rp500 billion for handling various disasters, including the bird flu virus.

In relation to the plan to carry out mass eradication of the fowls, Supari said that this matter was yet to be discussed. “The decision to carry out the mass or selective eradication will be taken in the limited cabinet meeting this afternoon,” Supari told reporters at the Vice President palace on Tuesday (20/09) in Jakarta.

Supari said that the government would continue to seek evidence causing the spread of the bird flu virus. According to Supari, the government must seek other possibilities than chickens, such as wild birds entering Indonesia from abroad.

According to Supari, the data held by the Indonesian agriculture department indicated that until last August, no fowl farm was infected by the virus; nor were the fowls near the house of the late Rini Dina, who died of the bird flu virus.

Supari said that the number of victims of the bird flu virus has increased to six people. Two were assumed to have been infected by the virus. Four others are likely infected by the virus. “But, we are still studying these cases,” said Supari.
(Budi Riza-Tempo News Room)