# 1634
The area in and around Jakarta has become a hotbed of avian flu infections over the past year, with Tangerang being one of the hardest hit areas.
Out of 16 residents of that regency to be diagnosed with bird flu, 14 have died.
Now Tangerang will open a bird flu crisis center to, hopefully, better coordinate the fight against the virus.
This from the Jakarta Post.
Tangerang to open crisis center to coordinate fight against bird flu
Multa Fidrus, The Jakarta Post, Tangerang
The recently reelected Tangerang Regent Ismet Iskandar has ordered officials to open a crisis center in a bid to curb the spread of avian influenza in the regency.
Ismet said the center would enhance coordination among agencies, and would be managed by a cross-agency team.
"Cooperation is the key. The regency's Asset and Wealth Management board must provide the required funding while the Spatial Layout and Building Agency must build a laboratory for research at Tangerang Hospital," Ismet said recently in a meeting before top officials in Tangerang.
He appointed administrative assistant Deden Sughandi to head the crisis center.
He also ordered the administration's legal department to compose a bylaw on poultry trade and industry.
"There must be the good will of all related agencies to fight avian influenza, otherwise Tangerang will remain one of the hardest hit areas in the country," he said.
The central government declared Tangerang a "red zone" for bird flu following the deaths of Iwan Siswara, an official at the Supreme Audit Agency (BPK), and his two young daughters in July 2005.
