Avian Flu Spreads in Central Java and Yogyakarta

TEMPO.CO,Thursday, 06 March, 2014


Jakarta - Avian flu virus strikes in a number of areas in Yogyakarta and Central Java. PututPurnomo, Head of the Veterinarian Information Division in Yogyakarta, said that the virus that struck recently is of a different kind, which is the Clade 2.3.2 virus.

"At first this virus was lethal to ducks, now it attacks all types of poultry," said Putut on Wednesday, March 5, 2014. The virus first struck in 2013 when more than 10,000 ducks died of the virus.

Early in 2014, the Center confirmed that there are cases of poultry deaths due to the Clade 2.3.2 virus. In Central Java, it has spread throughout Sragen, Semarang, Pekalongan, Brebes, Temanggung, Wonogiri, Magelang and Boyolali.

The government has actually developed a vaccine for the Clade 2.3.2 virus called 'Afflu'. However, many farmers refuse to administer the vaccine to their poultry.



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