Govt To Pay Attention To Bird Flu Cases

Jakarta, Jan 10 (ANTARA) - The deputy chairperson of the House of Representatives` Commission IX, Nova Riyanti Yusuf, has urged the government to pay attention to the new Avian Influenza (H5N1) virus of clade 2.3.2, which has spread to thousands of ducks. "The government should look into the future of poultry breeders, the nation`s poultry industry, and the safety of Indonesians," said Nova on Wednesday. She added that the bird flu had spread to a number of regions in Indonesia in the past few weeks, reducing the income of poultry breeders significantly. Therefore, the legislator said the bird flu working committee of Commission IX should provide bird flu vaccines to the public to contain the virus. "The H5N1 virus of clade 2.3.2 is dangerous, because its pathogenesis is equivalent to that of the bird flu virus of clade 2.3.1, which has spread to 192 Indonesians and killed 160 people," Nova noted. According to her, the H5N1 virus of clade 2.3.2 is harmful to humans. Earlier, the Agriculture Ministry, through its Directorate General of Animal Husbandry, reported that it has discovered a vaccine for the H5N1 virus of clade 2.3.2. To contain the virus, the ministry will produce 25 million vaccines in February this year. The ministry will then distribute the vaccines to poultry breeders at no cost. The ministry has urged the citizens to wash their hands before and after meals, and to cook their food thoroughly before consumption. Poultry breeders should not sell infected ducks to consumers.