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7 Subdistricts in Sukabumi High Alert for Avian Influenza
Sukabumi - The Livestock Service Office of Sukabumi District in West Java is closely monitoring avian influenza (AI) in 7 endemic subdistricts as extreme weather, which could potentially increase the incidence of disease in poultry, is occurring.
“The 7 endemic subdistricts are Nyalindung, Tegalbuleud, Purabaya, Cireunghas, Purabaya, Jampang Tengah, and Bojonggenteng,” said Head of the Livestock Service Office of Sukabumi District, Asep Sugianto, on Saturday.
Asep said the current bad weather could potentially cause disease spread in poultry, in particular AI. Therefore, close monitoring is needed, such as assigning field officers to actively assist farmers to prevent further spread of disease.
Also, further anticipative measures are by intensifying the spraying of disinfectants to poultry pens or biosecurity. “We also monitor all birds coming into Sukabumi district,” he said.
But, so far this year, there has been no report of poultry die-off or avian influenza outbreak. Asep said AI cases in Sukabumi district continues to decline every year, unlike in 2007 and 2008 where avian influenza occurred in 47 subdistricts in Sukabumi.
AI was last found in 2011 in 7 subdistricts and 12 villages. “The decline of AI cases in Sukabumi district could not be separated from the awareness of the public to house their poultry, regularly give vitamins, and maintain the cleanliness of their poultry pens,” said Asep.
He added that large companies or poultry operations in Sukabumi district are so far free from AI. “But we still have to closely monitor the development of AI, particularly in endemic areas,” he said. (Editor: Ade Marboen)
Source : Antara