Caution for Bird Flu

SRAGEN – Sudden death of 20 native chickens in Seko and Brojol villages in Miri sub-district of Sragen district, Central Java, stunned the local livestock services office. The incident was suspected to be caused by avian influenza viruses or bird flu. To confirm that, the Livestock Services Office of Sragen is waiting for results from the Disease Investigation Center (Balai Besar Veteriner/BBV). “Since last week, 3 chickens in Soko village and 17 chickens in Brojol village had died. Among those dead birds, six pointed to AI,” said Head of the Livestock and Fisheries Services Office of Sragen district, Sri Hardiati, through the Head of Animal Disease Prevention and Eradication Section, Susiwi, DVM.

According to Susiwi, her office has vaccinated and applied disinfectants to poultry in those two villages. This was done to prevent spread of the virus. Until yesterday, Susiwi was at the Bird Flu Vigilance Post of Soko Village. 
Susiwi said that poultry are almost everywhere in Sragen. The few number of poultry owned by each citizen is also a concern for the Livestock and Fisheries Services Office.
Total poultry population in Sragen is approximately 1,350,000 birds and they are outspread in 20 sub-districts. Citizens are advised to watch for poultry that suddenly die. “If said endemic, almost all sub-districts with poultry could be endemic, because we could not predict when the disease will emerge and to where it will spread,” she said.
Susiwi added that during season change, AI virus could replicate well. “If there is a chicken that suddenly died, do the fixed procedure for AI. Even though the poultry death was not due to AI [in the end], but it is safer that way,” she explained. (her/den/roz/jpnn)
Source : Jawa Pos