Jakarta (ANTARA) - The Jakarta Food Security, Maritime Affairs, and Agriculture (KPKP) Office has implemented biosecurity procedures to prevent the potential spread of clade 2.3.4.4b of the H5N1 virus or bird flu in Jakarta.

"We are carrying out a biosecurity procedure at centers of poultry farming, delivery, or even during the unloading and loading of livestock," Head of the Jakarta KPKP Office Suharini Eliawati informed during a discussion on bird flu prevention here on Thursday.

The office has remained alert against the transmission of the H5N1 virus, considering that Jakarta's need for poultry is reaching one million heads per day, she said.

Therefore, the supervision of the movement of poultry from other regions to Jakarta needs to be made stricter as Jakarta is not a poultry-producing region.

"Animal's certificate from the region of origin is an essential requirement," Eliawati said.

She further said that the alertness is also focused on poultry slaughterhouses.

"In Jakarta, there are six poultry slaughterhouses. The entrance and exit, of course, becomes something we must be wary of because the officers can become carriers (of the virus)," she added.

Other biosecurity efforts implemented by Jakarta are maintaining the cleanliness of cages, carrying out disinfection, and wearing masks while in contact with poultry.

The Jakarta KPKP Office has asked the community to report to the office, including its regional offices, if they come across any sudden poultry deaths.

The symptoms of bird flu in poultry include a red-black or blue and swollen comb, which can be accompanied by bleeding of thick blood at the tip. In addition, bleeding can also occur in areas of the skin that are not covered with feathers, especially on the shins of the legs.

Another sign is the sudden death of poultry in large numbers without any signs of illness or with slight signs of paralysis.

Earlier, the Ministry of Health had issued a Director General of Disease Prevention and Control (P2P) Circular Letter Number PV.03.01/C/824/2023 concerning precautions against extraordinary events of bird flu (H5N1) new clade 2.3.4.4b, which was stipulated on February 24, 2023.

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Translator: Dewa Ketut, Raka Adji
Editor: Rahmad Nasution
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