SOREANG – Avian Influenza was confirmed to be the cause of hundreds of ducks dying in Cijagra and Tangismekar Villages in Paseh Subdistrict, Bandung District. The case was confirmed after samples were tested in Cikole Animal Health Laboratory in West Bandung District.

Head of the Animal Health Division of the Livestock and Fisheries Service Office of Bandung District, Euis Rohayani, said laboratory tests on duck samples were positive for avian influenza. “This reveals that the mass duck die-off in Paseh was caused by Avian Influenza,” she said on Sunday (24/8/2014).

Euis said the office has responded to the incident according to procedures. They have also traced birds and taken measures to prevent further spread of the disease.

“We are disinfecting the case site. We are also educating locals on the dangers of this disease,” she said.

The measures were taken to prevent Avian Influenza from spreading to other birds and from infecting people, which could be fatal.

Euis urged people to burn or bury the carcass of dead birds and wash hands with soap after touching one.

Meanwhile Head of the Health Office of Bandung District, Achmad Kustijadi, has instructed doctors in Paseh subdistrict community health centers to be on alert for the next month in response to the duck die-off in the subdistrict.

Residents developing a fever within the next 2 to 3 days should go to the nearest community health center of hospital, he said.

So far, no such case has been reported. Achmad said Avian Influenza infection in humans usually starts with persistent high fever for 2 to 3 days.

“Anybody with such a symptom should go to a community health center or hospital to be quarantined. This is to prevent the disease from spreading,” he said. (Cecep Wijaya/A-89)

Source: Pikiran Rakyat