Hundreds of Native Chickens and Arabic Chickens Dying

Slawi, Kompas - Hundreds of native chickens and Arabic chickens in Tegal district, Central Java, had suddenly died off within the last week. Rapid tests done by the Marine, Fishery, and Livestock Service Office had not found any indication of avian influenza (AI) infection. Even so, farmers are cautioned of the possibility of AI. Meanwhile, in response to the plan of DKI Jakarta government to prohibit entry of live birds into their area, the poultry slaughterhouse of Sukabumi local government in West Java has started to operate. In order to break the chain of AI virus transmission, DKI Jakarta is closing all borders against live poultry.

Cases of sudden chicken death have occurred in Kabunan village, Dukuhwaru subdistrict; Tonggara village, Kedungbanteng subdistrict; Talok village, Pangkah subdistrict; and Pendawa village, Lebaksiu subdistrict. In detail, 200 chickens in Kabunan village, 27 chickens in Tonggara village, 9 chickens in Talok village, and 14 chickens in Pendawa village have died.
Hisam (70), citizen of Kabunan village, on Tuesday (17/2), said that for the last week, 95 of his chickens had suddenly died off - 80 Arabic chickens and 15 native chickens. On average the chickens were 5 months old. All of the dead chickens were buried without being burned.

Sample testing
Member of the Participatory Disease Surveillance and Response Team of the Marine, Fishery, and Livestock Service Office of Tegal District, Hendro Dwi Sumantri, stated that they had examined two dead chickens. Rapid tests had showed no indication of AI viruses. According to Hendro, the chickens had died because of virulent New Castle disease (ND) infection. “In Avian Influenza we usually find bluish discoloration on the head and oral discharge, but these chickens had none of those,” Hendro said. The government office then gave disinfectants to farmers.
Avian Influenza control officer of the Marine, Fishery, and Livestock Service Office of Tegal district, Sugiyanto said that even though rapid tests resulted negative for AI, farmers still need to be caution.
Meanwhile, DKI Jakarta is planning to prohibit entry of live poultry starting April 2010. The daily demand of poultry in DKI Jakarta is 600,000 birds per day and about 25% is supplied from Sukabumi district. Head of the Livestock Service Office of Sukabumi district, Asep Sugiyanto, said that besides government-owned poultry slaughterhouses, there are also 3 commercial poultry slaughterhouses in Sukabumi. (AHA/WIE)
Source: Kompas