Bird flu outbreak hits east Lombok

East Lombok agriculture and animal husbandry authorities consider the region to have been hit by a bird flu outbreak following the discovery of bird flu infected-chickens in the district. Based on rapid tests on chickens at Montong Betok village, Montong Gading sub district, bird flu or avian influenza had infected local poultry, ANTARA quoted the head of the East Lombok Agriculture and Animal Husbandry Office Khalid Tarmizi as saying on Monday. Khalid warned local people to be alert to the disease so it would not infect humans. "It's a must. Awareness is needed to anticipate all eventualities so that no people will contract avian influenza," Khalid said. Any sudden death of poultry must be reported to the local agriculture and animal husbandry office, he said. "I will report this to the East Lombok district head to ask for directives on measures to deal with the case," Khalid added. Head of the East Lombok Health Office's Animal Health Section Vet Heri Rachmadi said his staff members would monitor the case continuously not only in Montong Gading sub district, but also other sub districts. He urged local villagers to immediately report to his office if there is sudden death of poultry. "Because we have a limited number of personnel, the community is called on to report to us if there is sudden death of chickens," he said. At least 156 chickens at three villages, namely Mujur, Mundi and Montong Godek, in Montong Betok, Montong Gading sub district, East Lombok District, had died suddenly over the past few days.