The setting up of the team was discussed at a meeting led by Gorontalo Mayor Adhan Dhambea here Saturday.
To prevent the virus from spreading, the poultry traffic from and to the city would be restricted, the mayor said.
Poultry farmers were also told to isolate their poultry in order to make the monitoring easier.
Local residents were also urged to avoid eating poultry for temporary.
Last Thursday (March 31), thousands of chicken in Tolangohula and Limboto sub district, Gorontalo District, were found dead. The next day (April 1), the local health service confirmed that the chickens died of H5N1 virus.
So far, there are no reports of human cases of Avian Influenza (bird flu) in Gorontalo.
Meanwhile, in Padang, West Sumatra, a total of 27 patients suspected of being infected by bird flu virus have been treated in M Jamil Public Hospital in Padang, West Sumatra Province, since January 2011.
Of the total number of patients, 24 were residents of Padang city, Gustavianof, a spokesman of M Jamil Hospital, said in Padang Thursday (March 31).
"While patients from outside Padang, include one from Bukittinggi, another from Pesisir Selatan District, and another from Dharmasraya," he said.
Now, the two patients are still undergoing intensive treatment at the hospital.
"The hospital`s team of doctors is still diagnosing the two patients, who have just arrived intensively. One of them is currently improving," he said.
The hospital has taken blood samples from the two patients and sent them to the laboratory to confirm whether they are negative or positive of bird flu virus infection.
"The hospital is still waiting for the result of laboratory blood tests from the health ministry`s Health Development and Research Agency (Balitbangkes)," Gustafianof said.
The hospital still has an ample stock of tamiflu, he said. Besides, tamiflu, the hospital has also received masks and special outfits for bird flu suspect patients.
In 2009, the hospital had treated nine bird flu suspect cases, and seven cases in 2010. One patient had died while being treated in the hospital.
(T. KR-SHS/Uu.F001/HAJM)
Editor: Priyambodo RH
Copyright © ANTARA 2011
