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View all search resultsBird flu threat is alive and well: Ministry
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Officials from South Tangerang’s Food Security, Agriculture and Fisheries Agency disinfect BSD Modern Market in South Tangerang, Banten, on Sept. 19, 2017, as part of the Health Ministry’s influenza pandemic simulation. The exercise was conducted across South Tangerang municipality and Tangerang regency. (JP/Moses Ompusunggu)
W
earing white protective suits and goggles, four animal health officials sprayed disinfectant across an alley of chicken vendors at BSD Modern Market in South Tangerang, Banten, on Tuesday.
Army personnel and police officers closely monitored the situation, preventing people from entering the area, which had been closed for cleaning.
“Cut! You can take a rest now, thank you,” shouted a woman standing a few meters away.
It was as if the filming of a medical-disaster movie was taking place, but it was actually a meticulously prepared simulation of an influenza epidemic carried out by the Health Ministry on Tuesday and Wednesday.
Apart from the Indonesian Military (TNI) and the National Police, other institutions playing a part in the simulation were the National Disaster Mitigation Agency (BNPB), the Social Ministry, the South Tangerang administration and the Tangerang regency administration.
Similar activities took place at the Setu community health center (Puskesmas) in Setu subdistrict, BSD City’s Eka Hospital, the Center for Science and Technology Research (Puspiptek) complex, the National Nuclear Energy Agency (BATAN) compound, Tangerang Municipality Public Hospital, Soekarno-Hatta International Airport and Merak Harbor, which connects Java and Sumatra.
Speaking at a news conference at Puspiptek, South Tangerang, Health Minister Nila F. Moeloek said the locations had been selected because of their “bird flu epidemic” history. Tangerang and South Tangerang are no stranger to the contagious avian influenza, having seen around 30 cases since the first discovery of the H5N1 virus, which causes the disease, in 2005.
