Hundreds of Poultry Culled in Kendal and Tegal

KENDAL(SINDO) – Hundreds of Avian Influenza positive poultry in Kendal and Tegal districts were culled yesterday. In Kendal, culling was done to 128 chickens owned by citizens of Kedungsari village RT 01-02/II of Singorojo district. The chickens were then burned. Previously, the birds have been confirmed to be infected by avian influenza. The outbreak started with sudden die-offs of chickens since a week ago. Culling was coordinated directly by Head of the Livestock, Marine, and Fisheries Services Office of Kendal district, drh Khumaedi, and Head of the Health Office, dr Kadarsuyanto. Also, officers conducted health examinations on citizens around the area where the chickens died. There are six ill citizens with symptoms similar to bird flu, but the Health Office still haven’t confirmed it.

A citizen, Sujoko, 33 years old, said the sudden chicken die off made him anxious. The dead chickens had discharges coming out from its mouth. “Yes, they were still healthy in the morning, but suddenly died the afternoon,” said Sujoko.
Another citizen, Wahyudi, 25 years old, said he gave his live chickens for culling because he feared he could get the infection. Head of the Livestock, Marine, and Fisheries Services Office, drh Khumaedi, explained that to prevent spread of the virus, his office will depopulate the remaining chickens. He also encouraged citizens to spray the chicken houses with used laundry water still containing detergents.
“Twice a week we will spray all chicken houses owned by citizens,” Khumaedi said. Meanwhile, many chickens in Procot administrative village RT 04 RW 01 of Slawi sub-district in Tegal district had suddenly died for the last five days. Rapid tests run by officers of the Fisheries, Marine, and Livestock Services Office resulted positive for H5N1 viruses. For prevention, the office advised citizens to quarantine their remaining live chickens for two weeks.
Head of the Animal Health Section of the Fisheries, Marine, and Livestock Services Office of Tegal district, drh Abdi Manaf, said that 49 chickens were positive for AI infection in that area. Poultry death due to avian influenza in Procot administrative village, he said, was the seventh case since March to April 2008. Before, poultry death occurred in other areas, such as Bumiharja village in Brekat (Tarub sub-district), Bangungalih (Kramat sub-district), Dermasandi and Bedug village (Pangkah sub-district), and Procot administrative village (Slawi sub-district). “Rapid tests run in those areas resulted positive for avian influenza. The chickens were also exhibiting symptoms such as bluish combs and discharge from its mouth and cloaca,” he explained.
Meanwhile, a number of citizens that had direct contact with the dead chickens were examined by officers from the Health Office of Tegal district. According to Head of the Prevention and Eradication Section, Ari Dewi Cahyani, health examination was done to screen for citizens with flu and high fever. But, so far they haven’t found any citizen with indications of a bird flu infection. (zaenal alimin/kastolani)  
Source : SINDO