Ostrich husbandry illegal: Regent

PURWAKARTA, West Java: Purwakarta Regent Bunjamin Dudin revealed on Saturday that an anthrax-plagued ostrich husbandry in Ciparungsari village here was running without a permit from the local administration.

"No permit from the administration was issued for the company to open an ostrich husbandry," Bunjamin told Antara, referring to PT Cisada Kema Suri.

The regent regretted that the company "washed its hands of the problem" when the disease broke out.

A source said that the husbandry, which is situated on 113- hectares belonging to state forestry firm Perum Perhutani, gained a permit from the central government.

At least 28 people have reportedly been suffering from anthrax while more than 100 others -- mostly families of the victims and the husbandry's employees -- are feared to have contracted the disease. (jun)