Top UN official supports intensified war on bird flu in Indonesia

Jakarta, 5 February 2007- The UN top bird flu official today praised Indonesia’s intensified avian influenza program, saying it will help save lives and prevent a possible pandemic.

“The government has already demonstrated it takes the issue of bird flu seriously,” said Dr. David Nabarro, Senior United Nations (UN) System Coordinator for Avian and Human Influenza.

“We welcome President Yudhoyono’s call for decisive action to bring this virus under control. The United Nations and the international community is working closely with the Government of Indonesia to identify the best ways to implement the new policies, both to restrict circulation of the virus quickly, and to the reduce the impact of control measures on people’s income and nutrition.”

Dr. Nabarro made the remarks following talks here with senior officials from the Indonesian government, UN agencies and international development agencies.  Komnas FBPI, the government body that coordinates Indonesia’s bird-flu control and pandemic preparedness program, hosted the talks.

The Indonesian government has announced a series of new, robust bird flu control policies in recent weeks.  President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono issued instructions on 27 January calling for intensified operations across the country, including expanded public awareness programs, better coordination with local governments, and an expanded bird flu control program supported by the national military. 

The Indonesian government and the UN believe that control of bird flu means the regular surveillance of poultry in all districts so that diseased birds are identified promptly, control measures are implemented without delay and those whose birds have to be culled receive compensation promptly within the rules set by government.  Hygiene in poultry farms and meat markets must be at a uniformly high standard and poultry vaccination policies must be implemented consistently in all provinces.  These actions will serve to protect the health of the Indonesian people for years to come”.

The national government has also called on local government to place strict restrictions on backyard farming in residential areas. The Jakarta regional administration has already implemented a ban on poultry in residential areas, which came into effect 1 February. This ban should be closely monitored before it is implemented elsewhere. Lessons should be learnt from the experience in Jakarta so that the effects on people’s livelihoods are limited.

“The government has been working hard to address the issue of bird flu on many fronts,” said Dr. Bayu Krisnamurthi, Chief Executive of Komnas FBPI.

“Public awareness, disease surveillance and control, as well as culling and compensation programs and bird vaccination accompanied with poultry industry restructuring, all remain part of our strategy, ” he said.

Mr. Krisnamurthi stressed that this year, Indonesia’s expanded public awareness campaign would focus more on promoting community-based programs so the campaign against bird flu can grow into a national movement, involving the entire community. 

“We want to bring this virus to its knees,” he said. “We are taking decisive action – but we know it has to be the right action and we will need to stick to it not just for a few months, but for the rest of this year, next year and beyond.  That’s why we work closely with – and are listening to - our domestic and international partners, industry, and the people to carry out this enormous task.”

Both Dr. Nabarro and Mr. Krisnamurthi reminded Indonesians that chicken and poultry products are safe to eat, as long as it is derived from healthy poultry that is thoroughly cooked.

"Chicken is still an important source of protein for many Indonesians," Mr. Krisnamurthi  said. "People should know they could keep eating meat from properly prepared poultry."

The H5N1 avian influenza virus is a highly pathogenic strain of influenza that affects mainly poultry. In rare instances the virus can also infect humans. The virus has been detected in poultry in 30 of the 33 Indonesian provinces; as of end of January, it has also infected 81 people in Indonesia, killing 63 of them.

There are steps that every Indonesian can take to lower the risk of contracting the H5N1 virus.

TANGGAP FLU BURUNG! OUR HANDS PREVENT BIRD FLU!

For further information please contact:

KOMNAS FBPI Media Center
Phone: (62-21) 3853515/3854227

Tod Mohamed (International Media)
Mobile: 0811936674
Email: tod.mohamed@gmail.com

Arie Rukmantara (National Media)
Mobile: 0817754548
Email: rukmantara@gmail.com