Until March 31, 2008, the number of AI cases in humans in Indonesia has reached 131 cases with 107 fatalities (Komnas FBPI). Indonesia also has the highest case fatality rate (81.68%) in the world. This should not only be a warning for Indonesia but also for the international world that an influenza pandemic could occur. The emergence of cases in humans from time to time shows that avian influenza virus control in Indonesia is still not optimal.

Avian influenza needs to be managed comprehensively, starting from on farm to off farm. Control of this disease should not only be done on farms but also along the distribution chain of poultry and poultry products. The spread of avian influenza in Indonesia so far could not be separated from poor handling of poultry and poultry products in the distribution chain (including markets that sell poultry and poultry products).

Critical points of the poultry and poultry product distribution chain have been identified from workshops held in six (6) cities by the National Committee of Avian Influenza Control and Influenza Pandemic Preparedness (Komnas FBPI), United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), and Center for Indonesian Veterinary Analytical Studies (CIVAS). The critical points include farms, poultry collecting facilities (PCFs), medium and large scale poultry slaughterhouses (PSHs), small-scale poultry slaughterhouses (SS-PSHs), transportation of poultry and poultry products, and meat/ carcass selling areas in markets (los). These critical points should receive special attention to suppress the spread of avian influenza.

As a final event for the six (6) series of workshops on live bird markets / traditional markets, which were held in Tangerang, Medan, Surabaya, Denpasar, Makassar, and Bandar Lampung, on January 22 to 24, 2008, Komnas FBPI, USDA, and CIVAS held a national workshop in Jakarta. This workshop discussed strategies to restrain the spread of avian influenza viruses in the distribution chain of poultry and poultry products. Development of guidelines for management of poultry markets and distribution of poultry and poultry products was the main discussion point in this workshop. The guidelines were expected to reduce the spread of avian influenza in the distribution chain of poultry and poultry products. The guidelines included good practices in farms, poultry collecting facilities (PCFs), medium and large scale slaughterhouses (PSHs), small-scale slaughterhouses (SS-PSHs), transportation of live poultry and poultry carcass, the poultry meat inspection system, and market society empowerment. Success of avian influenza control heavily depends on public participation; therefore the concept of market society empowerment was also included in the guidelines to optimize avian influenza control practices. Other than guidelines, the national workshop also decided on the establishment of pilot markets in several regions and proposal of a president’s directives which will be initiated by Komnas FBPI. This workshop also produced several recommendations that support the implementation of avian influenza control measures through interventions in poultry markets and poultry and poultry product distribution. The national workshop had involved many parties including the central government (cross sectors), local government, regional legislatives, private sector, farmers, vendors, market managers, academicians, experts, professional associations, and non-government organizations.

The national workshop was opened by Elisa Wagner from USDA and Emil Agustiono from Komnas FBPI. In the workshop all participants agreed to work together in management of poultry markets and the distribution chain of poultry and poultry products as an effort to prevent further spread of avian influenza in Indonesia. (AJ)