'Better safe than sorry; fish instead of chicken'

Although there has not yet been a reported case in the country of humans infected with avian influenza, or bird flu, many people have opted not to eat chicken, eggs or other poultry products. The central government has repeatedly assured people that well- cooked chicken was safe to consume, but its lack of monitoring of the chicken industry has left many residents, whom The Jakarta Post spoke to, quite wary.

Erianti, 33, works at a private company in Tangerang, Banten. She lives with her family in the Serpong district of Tangerang:

Lately, my family has not been eating chicken due to the reports about bird flu. We fear that we will be infected.

I heard on local television that it is safe to eat chicken if we cook it well. But I still prefer to eat fish or other meats, although my son likes chicken very much.

I hope that the government will soon resolve the problem so that the people do not have to worry about it.

Lisa Gunawan,30, an assistant to an accountant at the Jakarta Stock Exchange building in South Jakarta. She lives with her husband and son in Jatinegara, East Jakarta:

The avian flu epidemic really makes me worry, especially as the issue affects one of the main foods for my baby boy, chicken meat. For the time being, I've stopped giving him chicken and instead let him eat fish.

I also told my housemaid not to buy any chicken until the government makes it official that the disease is under control.

--The Jakarta Post