R

esidents in Padang, West Sumatra, have been warned about a possible bird flu endemic after five people were suspected of having contracted the virus.

“Padang residents should take precautions,” Padang Health Agency head Afrida Aziz was quoted as saying in Padang on Saturday by Antara news agency.

She said monitoring bird flu remained a top priority given the impact of the deadly disease, especially in the wake of reports of mass chicken deaths in the city’s eight districts.

The eight districts are Padang Barat, Padang Utara, Padang Timur, Padang Selatan, Kuranji, Lubuk Begalung, Koto Tangah and Nanggalo.

“In those eight districts, residents have reported that many fowl died suddenly,” Afrida said.

She added her agency was working with the town’s agriculture, forestry and plantation agencies to monitor cases and called for chicken breeders to immediately report unusual chicken deaths to effectively roll out preventive measures to contain the virus.

The five people reported to have contracted the bird flu virus have been hospitalized. “Doctors are examining their blood samples,” Afrida said.

Two of the patients were identified as Rifatul and Rafi Rizandi.

Rifatul was admitted to hospital on Feb. 26 while Rafi Rizandi was hospitalized March 2.

Both displayed symptoms characteristic of bird flu, such as running a high fever, Afrida said.

Rafi’s father, Asril Anas, said he brought his child to the hospital for a high fever after some of his chickens suddenly died a week ago.

Asril said he did not know why his chickens suddenly died.

The bird flu virus remains a serious threat in Indonesia with only three of 33 provinces confirmed free from the bird flu threat.

Bird flu first hit headlines in Indonesia in 2005. However, the H5N1 strain is also known to have attacked chickens and other birds in other Asian countries, such as Thailand, Cambodia, China and Vietnam.