TANGERANGNEWS.com-The Department of Agriculture and Food Security (DPKP) of Tangerang Regency has prepared a number of preventive measures, following the entry of bird flu (H5N1) type 2.3.4.4b or Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) into Indonesia.
This is to follow up on the Circular Letter of the Minister of Agriculture Number 16183/PK.320/F/01/2023 dated 16 January 2023, concerning Circular Letter on Increasing Alertness for HPAI sub-type H5N1.
“We are taking precautionary measures to increase HPAI cases because they are zoonotic,” said Tangerang Regency DPKP Head Asep Jatnika Sutrisno to Tangerangnews.com, Tuesday 28 February 2023.
Asep said that he had prepared several steps as an effort to be aware of the outbreak.
One of them is reactivating PDSR (Participatory Disease Surveillance and Response) by conducting surveillance and responding, if there are reports and cases are found that lead to Avian Influenza.
Guidance for poultry farmer owners is also carried out to increase awareness and reporting if clinical signs are found that lead to Avian Influenza, such as decreased production and sudden death.
Meanwhile, supervision on livestock traffic is also being carried out.
“We also respond to reports of suspected Avian Influenza and coordinate with the Subang Veterinary Center for sampling. We will also monitor livestock traffic. If there are clinical signs that lead to Avian Influenza, we will report it to i-Sikhnas,” he said.
Asep said, his party also coordinated with the Tangerang District Health Office in preparing steps to anticipate an increase in cases of HPAI, because it has the potential to spread to humans.
It is known that avian influenza is an acute viral disease in poultry caused by type A influenza viruses, subtypes H5 and H7. The virus can attack all types of poultry with a mortality rate of 100 percent.
Transmission of this virus can occur through direct contact from infected birds and susceptible birds through the respiratory tract, conjunctivitis, and feces.
“Indirectly through dust, food, drinking water, staff, cage equipment, shoes, clothes and vehicles contaminated with this virus, as well as infected live birds,” said Asep.
Nevertheless, Asep said that his party continues to monitor and supervise so that the spread of the virus does not occur.
Currently, there have been no case findings or reports regarding cases of bird flu contracting in poultry or human-to-human transmission in the Tangerang Regency area.
