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espite only very few cases of avian influenza being identified in the city this year, the administration is warning residents of the possibility of a future outbreak.

The head the city’s Agriculture, Maritime and Animal Husbandry Agency, Jawilhija, said recent screenings of poultry samples in the city showed that 70 percent tested positive to bird flu.

“Seventy percent of samples taken from the faeces of thousands of birds were avian flu positive, even though the birds appeared healthy,” she told The Jakarta Post.

Jawilhija said it did not pose a danger to humans as long as the meat was cooked well.

Jakarta was one flash point of the country’s avian flu outbreaks in the last five years, hosting 44 cases of the nationwide total of 162 last year, according to the WHO.

This year, there have been two cases in the city, with the latest involving a 34-year-old woman from South Jakarta, who died early July.

“We have to be aware that avian flu is still in the city. Bird owners should not let their pets roam about in the neighborhood and should have them certificated,” Jawilhija said.

The administration has issued a poultry restriction bylaw that regulates poultry distribution in the city.

The bylaw includes the requirement of certificates for pet bird owners and the localization of poultry slaughterhouses to six areas on Jakarta’s periphery.

The bylaw, however, has yet to be implemented due to widespread public criticism of the plan earlier this year.

One pet bird owner, Rudi Pelung, 42, a resident of Pondok Bambu in East Jakarta, said all his birds, mostly chickens, had been certificated as avian flu-free.

“It is a part of my responsibility as a bird enthusiast. I have to worry about my pets,” said Rudi, who owns 25 birds.

He said to get a certificate, officers from the agency would come and check the facilities provided for the birds, the birds themselves and whether they had been vaccinated.

As part of avian flu prevention, Rudi said kept as few birds as possible so they are easy to monitor.

“I make sure their cages are clean and they have proper ventilation and enough sunshine. The chickens should be treated regularly also,” he said.

For birds smaller than 1 kilogram, however, vaccination is not recommended because it is ineffective.

Hasan Helmi, who owns 60 pigeons, said he tried to prevent his pets from avian flu by regularly feeding them vitamins and medication.

Every six months their faeces are checked to receive the free avian flu certificates.

“The pigeons are an asset, I have to make sure they are in the best condition,”

According to Jawilhija, her agency has awarded certificates to 30,000 birds across the city. (not)