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Sudden Die-off of 300 Chickens from Influenza
Garut - In the last week, around 300 chickens suddenly died from H5N1 virus outbreak in several subvillages in Banyuresmi village, Banyuresmi subdistrict, Garut district, West Java. Authorities are worried the incident will threaten public health.
“There is definitely public health issues, if the virus ever infects humans,” said Head of the Animal Health and Veterinary Public Health Division of the Livestock Service Office of Garut Distrct, Dida Kardiana, on Sunday (20/2/2011).
Because of the incident, Dida hopes citizens will depopulate remaining birds according to the socialized procedures. The disease could have been transmitted to other birds and then it could be also transmitted to humans.
“Just vaccinating the birds is not enough, we are worried that it would jump to humans, because the consequences could be fatal,” said Dida.
With the finding of H5N1 infection, which was confirmed through laboratory testing, the service office is continuously educating the public on how to manage dead animals.
In the last week, officers have been deployed to the site to list houses with poultry. Some are vaccinated and sick chickens are destroyed.
“At the site, we found some dead chickens which we immediately destroyed by burning and burying it,” said Dida. The office will monitor Banyuresmi village every day in search of more cases.
During monitoring, the public is also educated to dispose of dead chickens by burning and burying it.
The public is also reminded to always wash their hands after touching birds, to prevent from contracting disease from the birds.
“So far we are still educating the public, because if we ask them to kill and destroy their birds, people aren’t willing,” said Dida. (ANT | Ed. Benny N Joewono)
Source : Kompas [edit]