# 4307
In recent days we’ve been watching a spike in media reports out of Indonesia on their bird flu situation, something which is typical for this time of the year. These reports include suspected human cases, as well as infected poultry.
Reports Out Of Indonesia Continue
Indonesia: A Tale Of Two Cities
Suspected Bird Flu Fatality In Indonesia
The Indonesian Beat Goes On
Today the Jakarta Post has a report out of South Lampung, on the southern tip of Sumatra, concerning the sudden deaths of thousands of chickens at a large poultry operation.
While the Indonesian government rarely releases information regarding their bird flu problem, based on the media reports we keep seeing, the problem has not diminished.
Residents worry as chickens die en masse
Oyos Saroso H.N. , The Jakarta Post , South Lampung | Sat, 01/30/2010 12:53 PM | The Archipelago
Residents in South Lampung are panicking following the sudden deaths of thousands of chickens owned by poultry company PT Central Avian Pertiwi, despite the birds having been previously cleared of avian flu.
However, after samples were re-tested at the Lampung Livestock and Animal Husbandry Agency lab, they were tested positive for H5N1.
The egg-laying hens, totaling more than 12,000, have currently been culled and tens of thousands of others have been isolated.
"Residents are afraid they will be infected by the bird flu virus. The poultry company has taken several measures, such as isolating the healthy chickens, destroying the sick and those showing signs of being infected," said South Lampung Livestock Agency head Ahmad Khandrie on Friday.
The poultry farm is now under the supervision of the Tanjungkarang Veterinary Agency, Lampung Husbandry Office and South Lampung Livestock Agency.
A resident in Merakbelantung village, Kalianda, South Lampung, Sobirin, 38, whose house is near the poultry farm, said the chickens had died suddenly over the past four days.
"Thousands of chickens are dying daily. We are obviously worried, especially after being informed that the chickens died after being infected by the bird flu virus," he said.
"The smell from the burning dead chickens has also disturbed residents. Some were forced to stay at their relatives in Bandarlampung out of fear."
A virologist at the veterinary agency, Sri Marfiatiningsih, said besides being infected by H5N1, another factor in the chickens' mass deaths in Lampung was the changing weather. She said abrupt deaths of chickens mostly occurred between January to February, with a likely decline in March.
