Bird Flu Center

Two more provinces in Indonesia, South Sulawesi and North Sumatra, have been hit with avian influenza outbreaks. Last week 1,500 chickens died from the flu in Bone and Sinjai, two regions of South Sulawesi. The disease is to be contained soon, or else it is likely to spread to other areas. However, recent floods and landslides could make such efforts more difficult. Indonesia is one of the most affected countries in the world, and experts say the disease could reach a peak in August, as the cold season begins and the virus becomes more widespread. In May, eight members belonging to the same family residing in Tanah Karo, North Sumatra, died and raised fears that the virus had found a way to become contagious among humans. A campaign conducted by authorities to raise awareness on the virus and the disease has not been very effective, especially among urban population. Also, people who raise poultry are often reluctant to allow their culling in areas where the virus has been found, as the compensation offered by the government is very low. Currently, authorities are offering little more than a dollar for every chicken culled.