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Bird flu outbreak hits Trenggalek as thousands of poultry die
A fresh bird-flu outbreak has hit Trenggalek regency, East Java, where thousands of birds were found dead in Pakis village, Durenan district
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fresh bird-flu outbreak has hit Trenggalek regency, East Java, where thousands of birds were found dead in Pakis village, Durenan district. Tests have confirmed the deaths were due to infection by avian flu (H5N1).
'Laboratory test results on 20 samples of bird carcasses confirm they were bird-flu virus positive,' head of Trenggalek Animal Health Center Budi Satriawan said on Tuesday as quoted by Antara news agency.
Budi explained that the virus that killed the birds was identical to that which had infected chickens and other poultry within the area, and was potentially harmful to humans.
Following the test results, Budi issued a recommendation letter ordering a mass cull and destruction of all poultry in the affected farm.
'The rules are clear. Birds that are still alive must be killed and burned,' Budi said.
In the midst of eliminating thousands of birds, Budi added that his team, after further investigation, would also cull other poultry farms to be on the safe side.
Poultry within a 200-meter radius of the original location where the bird flu virus was detected will be vaccinated and disinfectant would be sprayed on all farms, poultry and otherwise.
Previously thousands of birds died in Pakis village, Durenan regency. A total of 7,000 birds were culled following that outbreak. (bcw)
