City wary of avian flu

JAKARTA: The North Jakarta municipality announced on Wednesday that it was beefing up its investigation into poultry farms in the area following the deaths of 450 quail on a farm in Semper, North Jakarta, with suspicions that they may have died as a result of contracting the avian flu virus.

"I have ordered my subordinates to verify the reports at all poultry farms in the area," Mayor Effendy Anas said on Wednesday.

He also called on poultry breeders to alert the administration if they discover any of their livestock with avian flu symptoms.

Head of the animal husbandry and fisheries office with the North Jakarta municipality, Aswindratuti, said that her office was still investigating the deaths of the quails.

"We have not yet confirmed that the cause of death of these birds was due to avian flu," she said.

"However, we will be taking precautionary measures by intensifying monitoring of breeding farms, especially in Tanjung Priok, Cilincing, Koja and Marunda." --JP.