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AI in Pangkalpinang Cause the Death of Hundreds of Chickens
Pangkalpinang - In 2010, approximately 240 chickens in Pangkalpinang city in Bangka Belitung province had died form Avian Influenza (AI).
Head of the Animal Husbandry Division of Pangkalpinang city, Ghozali Efendi, in Pangkalpinang on Thursday said there were around 240 chickens that died from AI in 2010, an increase compared to 140 chickens in 2009.
“Avian Influenza cases in Pangkalpinang city has increased because of poor public awareness on maintaining chicken pen sanitation,” he said.
He said usually the AI outbreaks occur in January, February, and December, when the rainy season shifts to dry, and visa versa.
”Hundreds of AI positive chickens are found in January and February in several administrative villages such as Kampung Keramat, Pintu Air, Kacang Pedang, Bukit Merapan, Semabung Lama, Semabung Baru, and Bacang,” he said.
Ghozali said that to prevent virus spread, farmers are expected to report if they find sudden poultry death and not sell birds to markets which could cause disease transmission to human.
Also he advises the public to be careful when buying chicken to avoid AI.
“We hope people buying chicken for consumption will cook the meat to 80 degrees Celsius to kill the virus,” he said.
Ghozali believes that to prevent AI and other poultry diseases during the rainy season and change between seasons, farmers must increase the cleanliness of the environment and chicken pens, and spray disinfectants.
Besides maintaining cleanliness, farmers must also give vitamins and vaccination to improve immunity.
“Usually the birds’ immunity decrease in the rainy season causing, so if the birds aren’t given vitamins, vaccination, and the farm doesn’t have good sanitation, it will be easy for flu, fever, upper respiratory diseases, and dangerous viruses such as Newcastle Disease and Avian Influenza to infect,” he said.
Ghozali also said to anticipate virus infections in poultry, the office has prepared disinfectants, vitamins, supplements, and calcium to be distributed.
“Supplement, vitamin, and calcium aid for poultry will be prioritized for backyard flocks,” he said. (Idhad zakaria)
Source : Antara