Indonesia Receives US$47 Million to Overcome Bird Flu
Bernama, 16 Sept 2006

JAKARTA, Sept 16 (Bernama) -- Indonesia has received a committed loan of US$47 million (RM172.49 million) to prevent the avian influenza from developing into the next stage, ANTARA reported.

Quoting People's Welfare Coordinating Minister Aburizal Bakrie, the government's top bird flu priorities such as vigorous and sustained action to control the H5N1 virus at its source particularly in animals.

He was speaking to reporters after receiving senior UN System Coordinator for Avian and Human Influenza David Nabarro and other delegates.

H5N1 virus is still primarily an animal disease, but experts believe it could mutate into a form which spreads easily among humans, possibly setting off a global pandemic.

Meanwhile, Chief Executive of the National Committee for Avian Influenza Control and Influenza Pandemic Preparedness (Komnas FBPI) Bayu Krisnamuthi said: "The objective is to prevent the avian influenza from developing into the next state. Culling, compensation, vaccination and bio-security are clearly vital to reducing the threat."

Animal control measures are now a top priority, along with risk communications, information and public awareness and disease surveillance in animals and humans.

"We have the right strategy," Krisnamurthi said, adding that since the June meeting of International experts, Indonesia have been re-doubling its efforts to confront this virus.

Dr Naborro, the top UN official for bird flu,  is  in  Jakarta to  find out what more

the international community should do to support the Indonesian government's refocused national bird flu strategy.

He also noted that the Indonesian Agriculture Ministry had made great progress in recent months, setting up new systems for early detection of disease outbreak and coordinated response measures, including programs like participatory disease surveillance and participatory disease response.

These programs are being expanded to more than 150 districts in Java, Sumatra and Bali with the support of the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and donor agencies including USAID, AusAID and the government of Japan.-- BERNAMA