"Despite the sudden deaths of poultry in several regions and two persons being suspected to have died of bird flu in Bandung, we don`t as yet have to declare it as an extraordinary incidence," Alma said.
But she remains calling on the local people and encouraging them to stay vigilant at all times and to anticipate possible transmission of bird flu virus from poultry to humans.
"We have to remain alert and try to anticipate possible transmission of bird flu virus from poultry to humans," Alma noted.
Meanwhile, West Java Animal Husbandry Office Chief Koesmayadie said here on Monday that sudden poultry deaths had been reported from regions such as Bandung, West Bandung, Bogor, Bekasi, Depok, Kuningan, and Majalengka; all in the West Java Province.
"As of Saturday, March 3, a total of 314 chickens were reported to have suddenly died of the H5N1 virus in Bandung, West Bandung, Bogor, Bekasi, Depok, Kuningan, and Majalengka," West Java Animal Husbandry Office Chief Koesmayadie said, here on Monday.
He added that a research on the possibility of the mutation of the H5N1 virus was underway, as in 2011 a total of 35,308 chickens died of the virus in West Java.
Koesmayadie noted that the Animal Husbandry Office has conducted a rapid test against the 314 dead chickens and four of them have tested positive for bird flu.
"Thus, it is likely that there is a mutation of another virus that causes the death of those chickens," Koesmayadie said, adding that the Animal Husbandry Office would continue to carry out its research to confirm whether the chickens in the seven regions died as a result of the H5N1 virus.
He also noted that bird flu cases have started to occur since early this year in West Java, with two persons suspected to have died of the disease in Bandung.
(Uu.O001/H-YH/O001)
Editor: Priyambodo RH
Copyright © ANTARA 2012
