Poultry in Krajen Sub-Village Attacked by Bird Flu

SEMARANG, KOMPAS – Hundreds of chickens in Krajen sub-village of Banding village in Semarang district, Central Java, have suddenly died off in the last week. From rapid tests done by the Livestock and Fisheries Services Office of Semarang district on Thursday (28/2) in three RT (neighborhood unit), the dead chickens tested were positive for H5N1 viruses. Head of Banding Village, M Syariful Hadi, yesterday said that because there was a report of sudden die off in many chickens, on Thursday afternoon he held a community meeting. “At that time we agreed to eliminate all remaining poultry in this sub-village (Krajen) on Saturday morning with the help of officers from the livestock and fisheries services office,” he said.

Taslan, citizen of RT 4 RW 2 of Krajen, said that for a week, nine of his chickens had suddenly died. “Last Monday two chickens died. But I haven’t suspected the chicken to be infected by bird flu viruses. A few days later, five of my chickens died at once,” he said. Yesterday, Taslan continued, another two chickens died. “Yesterday (Thursday) evening, I still fed the chickens and they looked healthy. On Friday morning I already found them dead,” he said.
Suwardi (55), also a Krajen citizen, said that he had already lost three of his chickens. The incident was very sudden because there were no initial signs of illness.
Syariful added that since many of the citizens’ chickens suddenly died with secreting discharge from their beak, citizens then reported the incident to him. “For the last week, almost half of around 700 chickens owned by citizens of Krajan sub-village had suddenly died. Citizens here commonly own 3 to 10 chickens with a free range or backyard system,” he explained.
According to Ushwatun Hasanah (31), also a Krajen citizen, the plan of poultry depopulation on Saturday has been socialized by the village head. “Citizens were promised of receiving compensation from the government for every bird depopulated. Therefore, we don’t mind the depopulation plan,” she said.
In Tegal, Central Java, on last February 23, 2008, there was also a bird flu outbreak. This was known after rapid test done to one dead chicken – the disease caused sudden death in 52 chickens owned by citizens of Dermasandi village in Pangkah. (GAL)
Source : Kompas