Residents asked to look for poultry smugglers

DENPASAR: Bali’s Husbandry and Animal Health Agency is asking for island residents to watch out for poultry smugglers following avian flu outbreaks in other provinces.

Agency head Putu Sumantra said on Sunday that residents should be alert to the possible spread of bird flu from poultry transportation, especially illegal poultry transportation. “We have tightened our supervision to anticipate poultry smuggling from outside Bali which might bring the H5N1 virus to the island. We realize that we have a limited ability. We need support from residents to help the monitoring effort,” Sumantra said.

Bali bans poultry imports as stipulated by gubernatorial regulation.

Avian flu has killed four people in Bali since 2007. The last case was recorded in October, when two children in Jehem, Bangli, were killed by H5N1.