Local administrations in Bali have taken measures to prevent the possible spread of the deadly swine flu to the resort island.
Head of the Bali Animal Husbandry Agency, IB Ketut Alit, said he had instructed animal husbandry agencies in Bali's eight regencies and one municipality to check the bio-security system of all pig farms in their respective regions.
"I have also told the agencies to conduct routine monitoring of farms, particularly small-scale and household farms," he said.
Pig farming is a popular source of income among Balinese households, particularly in the island's rural areas. In those areas, each household may have two to six pigs in makeshift pens, located close to living areas.
"The number of household farms is so high that the key *to prevent the spread of swine flu* is supervision and monitoring," he stressed.
The Badung Animal Husbandry and Maritime Agency and the Badung Health Agency have also moved swiftly to prevent the deadly epidemic. On Monday, agency officials organized an educational gathering at Jagapati village.
During the gathering, officials distributed masks and disinfectant to participating farmers before informing them about the threat of swine flu. The farmers were asked to improve the hygiene of their pens as well as to closely monitor the health status of their pigs. Officials also told farmers to use masks when in close contact with their pigs.
"We haven't found any cases *of swine flu* in Bali. However, we ask farmers to stay alert," official Gde Asrama said.
He said the huge number of large-scale and small-scale farms in Badung had made the regency particularly vulnerable to the outbreak. The agency recorded a total population of 300,000 pigs in Badung. Small-scale farms grow two to three pigs, while large-scale farms house up to 400 pigs. There are 75 large-scale farms in Badung.
"The educational gathering targets large-scale farms first because these farms supply small-scale farms with piglets," he said.
Similar educational gatherings will soon be organized for small-scale farms and members of the banjar (traditional neighborhood organization) and Desa Pekraman (traditional customary village).
Asrama admitted the agency had yet to introduce a standard operating procedure (SOP) to deal with pigs suspected of having swine flu.
"This is a new virus and we ask farmers to immediately notify us when they find a sick pig," he said.
A farmer, I Made Kamar, praised the agency's initiative, stating it helped ease his anxiety about the virus.
"They gave us the information we needed about the disease. Frankly, I was worried after watching the televised news, particularly because I deal with pigs on a daily basis," he said, adding he had 360 pigs on his farm.
Separately, the Denpasar Animal Husbandry and Maritime Agency alerted its field educator officers (PPL) about the threat of swine flu. PPL are agency staff assigned to each village and subdistrict in the city, tasked with providing farmers with relevant information on farming. "I have instructed the PPL to make the swine flu threat their current priority," the agency head Dewa Made Ngurah said.
Data from the Bali Animal Husbandry Agency shows Buleleng is the regency with the largest pig population.
(Luh De Suriyani and Wasti Atmodjo contribute to this story)
