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.

A 44-year old man is suspected to have died following an infection with the bird flu virus. The man was hospitalized for two days with high fever, severe coughing and breathing difficulties and died on July 12th. Health officials now believe his death might not have been due to a simple flu, but to the feared avian influenza virus, which has badly hit the Asian country. Tests by a local laboratory await a confirmation by a World Health Organization inquiry into the case. Apparently the H5N1 strain of the virus was the source of infection on the man originating from an eastern outskirt of the capital city, Jakarta. He reportedly had contacts with birds, another reason to believe the avian flu caused the disease. This could make Indonesia the hardest hit country in the world, as only Vietnam has reported a similarly large death toll so far. World wide, at least 132 people have died from the virus, since it has started ravaging Asian poultry stocks in late 2003. Most human cases are linked with a close contact to birds, but the greatest fear is that the virus could mutate into a form easily transmittable among humans. Indonesia is likely to record more cases, as its government says it cannot afford to cull domestic fowl in regions where bird flu is detected. This measures, applied aggressively in Vietnam, has led to the country not recording any new cases in humans this year.

Indonesia’s bird flu death toll rose to 41 after a 5 year old boy succumbed to the illness. Authorities say that, considering the virus is now present in 27 provinces, it is highly likely that this victim will be followed by others. The boy himself contracted the disease from dead chickens afflicted by the deadly H5N1 strain. His family members have been also tested, but the results have not yet been announced.

Indonesia has been severely criticized for not using the usual routine of mass culling of the poultry in the infected areas, experts agreeing this is the best way to eradicate the virus. However the Indonesian government says it cannot afford to compensate the farmers for the fowl it has to kill. Vietnam is still the worst struck country by the disease, reporting 42 human casualties so far. However this year there have been no cases recorded so far, as officials have decided to use an aggressive culling policy.