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East Java: Checking Residents For H5N1

 

 

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Pamekasan is a regency on the island of Madura in located in East Java, Indonesia.   For the past couple of weeks we’ve been watching reports of poultry die-offs (and culling) taking place in that region.

 

This was the story 10 days ago, as reported by Ida on BFIC.

 

Pamekasan, East Java ::: Chickens die of bird flu

January 14, 2010

Pamekasan – About a hundred of chickens which were found to have suddenly died before in RT 01/06, Dusun Kebun, Desa Pademawu Timur, Kecamatan Pademawu, Pamekasan, East Java, tested positive bird flu infection.

 

Head of Livestock Service of Pamekasan, Hanfi Indrayana mentioned, those chickens had been tested positive bird flu infection by rapid test.

 

The infected chickens were showing signs such us convulsion and mucous discharge from mouth before dropped dead. Prevention and control measures had been taken by burying dead chickens, disinfection of affected area and distribution of H5N1 vaccine.

 

Source: Indonesia national newspaper, Kompas.

 

 

Of course, in Indonesia, there is nothing particularly unusual about the above story.   The H5N1 virus is rife in Indonesian poultry, and is probably endemic in other hosts as well.   Reports of bird die-offs are so common as to scarcely merit a mention in the International press.

 

Today, in a follow up article, we learn that after some delays public health officials are checking residents that were in contact with the sick and dying birds for possible H5N1 infection.

 

Again, this translation comes from Ida at the Bird Flu Information Corner.

 

Pamekasan, East Java ::: People examined for bird flu infection

January 24, 2010

Pamekasan – Health Service of Pamekasan, Madura, East Java conducted examination to residents of Desa Pademawu Timur, Kecamatan Pademawu who had direct contact with positively bird flu infected birds.

 

Head of Health Service of Kabupaten Pamekasan, Hendro Santoso, on Saturday (23/1) said the examination was done to confirm whether the deadly virus had been transmitted to human. “This is done according to standard operating procedure of the government,” he described.

 

Initial examination was done to the chicken owner, Yuni Astutik, and her family member.

 

On the other hand, Hendro also mentioned the Health Service had been delaying the examination to chicken owner and surrounding neighbors because they were waiting for rapid test result issued by the Livestock Service.

 

The locals previously complained about tardiness of the examination to the people.

 

“We afraid the deadly virus has been circulating among people in this village,”, said Rasyad, the head of neighborhood RT/RW 01/06 Dusun Kebun, Desa Pademawu Timur.

 

According to Livestock Service of Pamekasan, in Desa Pademawu Timur total 370 chickens had been tested positive bird flu infection. All of those chickens had been burned on 19 January 2010.

 

Source: Indonesia regional news office, ANTARA Jatim

 

 

Other than known exposure to infected birds, there is nothing in this article to tell us why local officials fear the virus has been circulating in the village. 

It simply may be that these checks are being conducted out of an abundance of caution, and not in response to suspected human infections.

 

 

It becomes problematic, however, sorting out possible bird flu infections when other flu-like illnesses (including H1N1) are circulating in the population.

 

This is probably one of the reasons why the CFR (Case Fatality Ratio) in Indonesia is so high (80% plus). By the time a victim realizes they have something worse than `normal flu’ and seek medical care, it is often too late to save them.

 

Since the Indonesian government has demonstrated little desire to be open and transparent about their bird flu situation we are relegated to reading, and trying to interpret, news articles like those above. 

 

The good news is, the Indonesian press still makes an attempt to cover these stories.   And we’ve got newshounds, like Ida at BFIC, and dozens of others on the flu forums, monitoring those stories.

 

If a serious outbreak erupts in some far-flung corner of the world, it is unlikely to escape their combined notice for long.

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Indonesia
Bird Flu

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