Sumatra’s Children Negative for Bird Flu

North Sumatra's Children Negative for Bird Flu

Wider endemic includes Jogjakarta, Bali and Banten

 

Six people in North Sumatra previously suspected for bird flu were in better condition, and preliminary tests revealed they are clear of bird flu and just suffer from a common influenza. Nevertheless, they are still being cared for in hospital, until complete laboratory test results come in.

Despite the good news, the government is taking no risks and continues to burn off thousands of chickens within a 5-kilometer radius around the suspected location of the last confirmed bird flu case in Tanah Karo, North Sumatra province. This region is the most affected so far by the bird flu, as eight people have died there of the illness.

There was no room for people to bargain and keep their belongings after officials accompanied by police and military officers came into the areas at night to enforce the government policy. Facing complaints of lack of compensation, the government raised the value of each chicken from 10,000 rupiahs to 12,500 rupiahs (US$1.4).

The government's response has been quick so far, including the opening of the genetic data so that health experts, scientists and pharmaceutical companies can work to develop vaccines and effective remedies, although it is still debatable whether the company that sponsor the research should keep the data regarding both royalties and intellectual rights or make it open for public.

Recent data show that Indonesia is the biggest of the bird flu's victims, surpassing Vietnam.

Jogjakarta, Bali, and Banten
Amidst the war against time to produce vaccines and effective drugs, bird flu has been spreading further in Indonesia. After North Sumatra, South Sulawesi, and Bali, the virus has now spread into Bantul regions, Jogjakarta province, the area most damaged by a massive earthquake last May. People still under the shock of that disaster are now seeing their chickens suddenly die off.

It will be a complicated problem as poultry is one of the most precious commodities they have after the earthquake, and the local government appears to have no resources to allocate in their budget to give compensation.

Even in Bali where bird flu also hit, the local government is reluctant to slaughter the remaining chickens after they recognized that there was no budget to compensate for the slaughter.

Earlier this week, more than 300 chickens suddenly died in Serang, Banten province, a sign that the wave of bird flue is spreading to that area. The recent data revealed that six suspected cases of bird flu have been found since last July. Meanwhile, Jakarta province has 15 cases and East Java has had 16 suspected cases since July.