87 Avian Influenza Positive Birds Found

Kendari, 23/5 (ANTARA) - At least 87 birds owned by citizens of Sanua administrative village, Kendari Barat subdistrict, Kendari municipality, Southeast Sulawesi, were declared positive for avian influenza. Head of the Livestock Service Suboffice of the Agriculture Service Office of Southeast Sulawesi, Mugiyanto, in Kendari on Friday said the birds were declared positive for the dangerous virus after an investigation was done by the animal health medical team in collaboration with the Livestock Service Office of Kendari.

”Animal health officers of the Agriculture Service Office of the province and municipality, titled as “Avian Influenza Rapid Response” had culled and cleaned all birds suspected to be infected by avian influenza,” he said.
Mugiyanto said the team sent to handle the case consisted of eight highly-experienced people; they have followed special trainings in Jakarta and Makassar.
They were assigned to several districts in Southeast Sulawesi considered at risk to avian influenza infection such as Kendari, Konawe, Konawe Selatan, and Kolaka.
”So the team, besides educating the public on the hazards of this disease, must also spray disinfectant (biosecurity) on poultry pens owned by citizens,” he said.
Mugiyanto said that spraying disinfectant on poultry and their pens is a preventive measure to prevent the virus to spread and infect other birds.
In relations with disinfectant stock, Mugiyanto said his office still has 1,500 liters. The Agriculture Service Office of Kendari and other districts in Southeast Sulawesi also has stocks of disinfectant, estimated between 350 to 500 liters each office. 
To prevent future infection, municipal/district governments need to establish a special location for poultry slaughter activities.
”So all chickens sold at markets would be in the form of carcass, there would no longer be slaughtering in markets with feathers and manure all over the place which is at risk of introducing disease to the environment,” he said.
Sumber : Antara [edited]