Jakarta hopes quick action can stop bird flu spreading

Jakarta hopes quick action can stop bird flu spreading

Damar Harsanto, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

The Jakarta administration says it has launched an all-out effort
to prevent a larger outbreak of avian influenza following the
confirmation of more cases of bird flu in both humans and birds.

The central government declared on Monday that Jakarta was in
an extraordinary condition due to the outbreak.

"Jakarta is now on top alert since no human cases of bird flu
have previously occurred here ... We are taking extraordinary
measures to contain the outbreak, even if the Ministry of Health
has not declared the occurrence an outbreak," said Jakarta Health
Agency head Abdul Chalik Masulili.

At least five human infections have been reported in Greater
Jakarta: Rini Dina Prasetyaningsih, who died of the virus two
weeks ago; F, 9, a close relative of Rini; and three other
children, identified as MG, 7, WLS, 2, and R. The four children
are now being treated at the Sulianti Saroso communicable
diseases hospital in Sunter, North Jakarta.

The administration also temporarily closed down Ragunan Zoo in
South Jakarta after it discovered 19 birds there had been
infected with avian flu. In addition, it also found two birds on
a poultry farm in Cempaka Putih, Central Jakarta, had tested
positive for bird flu.

Masulili said "the extraordinary measures" being taken
comprised comprehensive surveillance efforts and the location of
individuals who had been in recent contact with people suspected
of having bird flu.

The administration is providing free medication for residents
who exhibit the symptoms of severe influenza and are suspected to
have been in contact with people or poultry infected with bird
flu.

He said the health agency would soon send a circular to public
health centers as well as hospitals across the capital concerning
the provision of free treatment for residents with flu-like
symptoms.

The agency is preparing detailed measures to contain the bird
flu, including a financing scheme, he added.

In a related development, on Monday, South Jakarta Health
Agency officials along with officials from the health ministry's
laboratory took blood samples from 42 Ragunan Zoo workers who had
been in direct contact with birds and pigs in the zoo.

Armida, a doctor from Pasar Minggu Community Health Center
said the center had sent one of its patients who suffered from a
cough and breathing difficulties to Ragunan to give a blood
sample. The 50-year old man is a trader at the zoo.

One-hundred-and-forty-three of the zoo's 500 workers have been
identified as having been at high risk of exposure to the H5N1
virus.

Test results will be reported in six days.

Zoo officials will kill four pygmy chickens and treated the
other 14 endangered birds in the zoo's isolation room, according
to zoo spokeswoman Titi Sari Puntorini.

Ragunan Zoo reported 161,124 visitors this September, with
around 50,000 of them visiting last weekend. It also reported a
possible loss of more than Rp 500 million as a result of the 21-
day closure. (003)