'Better safe than sorry; fish instead of chicken'

'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