Script            : Ernal Rosa
Narrator        : Prima Puspahapsari
Editor             : Bambang Sulaksono

Music illustration      : Bagong. K, Composer: Mas Paul (maspaul.com)

Operator: Playback: Ki Pitutur calls his turtledoves

Narrator: Playing with two turtledoves named Tanggul and Mendut is Gatot Marsono’s daily activity. He does it every morning while cleaning cages and feed his turtledoves. He has done this for years.

Operator: Playback: Ki Pitutur calls his turtledoves

Narrator: Gatot Marsono can be called a person who holds fast to Javanese cultural heritage. For example, we can see from his passion to raise turtledoves. In Javanese culture, to achieve a perfect stage of a life, a Javanese man should have Wismo or a house, Garwo or a wife, Kukilo or turtledove, Curiga or Kris (traditional Javanese knife) and Turonggo or horse. This understanding is part of his parents’ heritage, not only in the form of teaching but also the heritage of turtledove.

Operator: Playback: A man’s perfection

As a person who deals with Javanese culture, I feel what have been inherited by ancestors such as wismo, garwo then kukilo, curigo and turonggo are actually not only a stage of human’s life. It contains values that become a reflection for the person. Actually turtledove is classified in the third category. So a living person who already ha as house, a wife but still want to have children. Then here the kukilo is interpreted as the children.

Narrator: Since culture cannot be separated from life, no wonder when bird flu outbreak was under the limelight, Gatot Marsono just took it easy. There were no fears nor worries that his turtledoves would be infected by bird flu. He is convinced that the way he treats Tanggul and Mendut, by taking care the hygiene of the birds and cages, will prevent bird flu. But, is it so? Are his birds already safe from bird flu? Especially when we see the turtledoves’ cages are hung on the living room’s wall close to daily activities area. Here is the opinion of a professor of Veterinary Faculty, University of Gajah Mada, Prof. Charles Rangga Tabu.

Operator: Playback: Statement of Prof. Charles on raising pattern

So far they raise the poultry in the backyard or in the house which is far from chicken farm; where in the case the chicken farm is possible to get infected, it is not a problem for them. What is necessary is how to keep the cages clean. We keep the pet birds healthy. I think pet birds owner knows whether his birds are  healthy or not.

Narrator: Gatot Sumarsono is a member of an association of turtledove lovers with cultural background. This kind of group becomes one of important elements within the turtledove lovers community in Indonesia apart from other elements such as big business oriented farms, small business and hobby oriented farms, as well as achievement oriented turtledove lovers. For this cultural background element, economic potential is not big, but fanaticism is not a question.  According to Charles Rangga Tabu, the social and culture of Indonesian husbandry is familiar with pets inheritance system.

Operator: Playback: Statement Prof Charles on social and culture

The culture of Indonesian to raise poultry has been in practice for many generations. In turtledoves case, it can go to three to four generations down. My grandfather inherited chicken to my father, and then my father inherited a pair of chickens to me when I got married. This culture has to be preserved, cannot be left out just like that.

Narrator: There is an interesting story from Gatot Sumarsono’s turtledoves. Apparently, he did not buy those turtledoves. There is always someone giving him the birds.

Operator: Playback: Statement of Ki Pitutur on the background of his Kutut + the cultural background of Kukilo

I got one after giving education session in Tanggulangin village, Genjahan, Ponjong. I named it Tanggul because it came from Tanggulangin. The other one came at 8.30 in the evening, after a car stopped in front of my house. When I opened the door, a local public prosecutor brought a bird in a cage. His sentence was simple “Boss, here I bring you what you like”. I could not refuse. Turtledove’s song ‘aur keteklak kung’ has a meaning that people should talk like the song of turtledove. The sound is nice to listen to, not hurting other people, and has a value … it is a hard thing to do.

Narrator: In some cultural events, Gatot Sumarsono is an active person, including as a writer or host of cultural program on RRI (National Radio) and local TV. In the cultural events he uses an on-air name of Ki Pitutur Jati or the true storyteller. With this name, it seems that he wants to show that he is following the philosophy of turtledove ‘s song ‘Kur Kete Kung’

Operator: Turtledove Song

By Taufik Wijaya KBR68H Jakarta

INTRODUCTION:   Indonesia is considered as being successful in controlling bird flu by some foreign countries. This is indicated by the decrease of death rate. Up to November, this year’s death rate reached 18 cases. However, National Committee of AI Control warns that H5N1 virus is still threatening people. Last case happened to a person in Semarang, Central Java who died due to the deadly virus. According to the study’s result conducted by some agencies, one of the deadly virus transmission sources is at traditional market. Then how is the awareness and anticipation of traders, poultry slaughterers, market management and consumers to prevent bird flu virus spread? KBR68H reporter Taufik Wijaya tried to find out about this matter in Jatinegara Market, Jakarta and Bumi Serpong Damai Market, Tangerang Banten. Listen to the complete report as follows:

Part 1_Poultry Management in Jatinegara Market

Fade in 081028-68h-Fik-Saga_atmosphere at Jatinegara Market Fade out

It was cloudy in the afternoon at Jatinegara Market. The clock showed 16.30. Some traders were taking care of their leftover product. The same busywork was seen in the poultry market, which is located separately from the main market in the eastern part of Jakarta.

Fade in 081028-68h-Fik-Saga_atmosphere at Jatinegara chicken market  Here, many traders are earning their living Fade out

At one of the corners, some poultry traders were enjoying their conversation. Bad smell of chicken feces is pungent but did not bother them.

081028-68h-Fik-Saga_atmosphere with sound of chickens at Jatinegara Market.

I then met one of the traders, Ahmad Supardi.  To this middle age man, I asked about the impact of bird flu virus to his business.
081028-68h-Fik- Saga_Supardi on bird flu issue (it is very clear (suffered losses).

“In my opinion, actually it (bird flu virus) is just a rumor. There are hidden interests. Because it relates to people’s economy especially at local level)”
Supardi still does not believe that the virus originating from poultry has killed more than 100 people since 2005.

081028-68h-Fik-Saga_atmosphere of conversation with supardi (these are broilers, male native chickens and ducks…)

Supardi said that in one day around 200 chickens are sold out. Native chickens and broilers are supplied, among others, from Banjar, Subang West Java and Semarang, Central Java.

081110-68h-Fik-Saga_atmoshpere of chicken supplies from truck

When a truck supplying poultry from Semarang arrived, three workers directly unloaded hundreds of chickens in bamboo cages into the market.

081110-68h-Fik-Saga_atmosphere of chicken supplies from truck

Poultry supply is usually sent every two days. The poultry then are moved to 2 meter by 1 meter iron cages.  One cage contains between 10 to 15 chickens.

081028-68h-Fik-Saga_atmosphere of chicken crowing at Jatinegara Market_2

081028-68h-Fik-Saga_Supardi on chicken supply

(Q: can you please tell us when you receive live chickens, what are the treatment and welfare for the chickens to prevent bird flu?) “We are traders, so the circulation is regular, it means come and go. So they do not stay overnight in the cages and directly we feed and give drink then sold. It is for Javanese chickens. So they do not stay until 3-4 days (in the market), it is also a risk.”

081028-68h-Fik-Saga_atmosphere of chicken crowing at Jatinegara Market_2

081028-68h-Fik-Saga_Supardi on refusing to sell chicken carcass

(Q:government and WHO recommend that traders should sell chicken carcass, what do you think) “This is a traditional market and, I beg your pardon, the majority of consumers are Moslems. They are still fanatic. And there are consumers who ask chickens slaughtered on the spot) Other trader, Yulianti, also gave comments.  081028-68h-Fik-Saga_Yuli on refusing to sell chicken carcass (the chickens are not fresh, while I also supply them to supermarket. Lethargic chickens are also not good. So let the traditional market be, as well as the supermarket)”

081028-68h-Fik-Saga_Supardi on the hygiene of the area and cages

(Q: here we have regular cleaning. Here every afternoon it is cleaned and sprayed. What time is it usually?) “See that …” Supardi pointed to the market’s cleaning service, who were getting ready to clean the market’s floor with water hose and palm leaves-broom.

081028-68h-Fik-Saga_Supardi on the hygiene of the area and cages_2

(Q:So before closing, the market is cleaned, it is regularly done. Do you spray with disinfectant?) “Yes we did before last lebaran (Islamic celebration), we also sprayed.” (Q: Still doing that regularly?) “Yes, we still do it but we spray only in  particular spots. Twice a month.”
081028-68h-Fik-Saga_atmosphere of cleaning service cleans the floor

Supardi was convinced that the effort with market management so far would be able to prevent bird flu virus spreading successfully. That it the trader’s point of view, however what do consumers think about the management of this market?   Rosmani described:
081201-68h-Fik-Saga_Rosmani on poultry management

“Yes, it is just fine. The problem is that I have never heard any bird flu infection (at Jatinegara market). Yes, it is just fine.” (Q: Do you have any intention that Jatinegara market will only sell carcass?) “Yes, except for hari raya (Islamic celebration), it is better to sell (live poultry). Because I want to have fresh product)  Rosmani, a resident of Kampung Melayu Jakarta, admitted that she buys chicken meat at Jatinegara market daily and one of her tricks to prevent from getting infected by H5N1 deadly virus is by cooking the chicken meat in accordance with regulation.”
081201-68h-Fik-Saga_Rosmani on proper chicken cooking

“For bird flu, if we cook the meat properly it will be fine. I have been shopping here for 5 years and hopefully there is no (bird flu virus).” (Q: Do you wash with soap after shopping?) “Yes, I wash hands with soap too.”
From traders and consumers, I moved to the slaughter site. At Jatinegara market the slaughter site is attached to the market.
081028-68h-Fik-Saga_atmosphere of chicken slaughter site

In one of the slaughter houses, tens of poultry ready to be slaughtered were put on the wet floor. The smell of blood and waste of poultry feces wass pungent. Three workers were busy slaughtering, cleaning and boiling broilers. They did not wear masks to cover their noses and only worn simple footwear.
081028-68h-Fik-Saga_ atmosphere of chicken slaughter site

One of the slaughterers, Muhammad Nur, admitted that 500 chickens are slaughtered in one day.

081028-68h-Fik-Saga_Nur on bird flu

(Q: since the bird flu outbreak, what efforts have you taken to keep the hygiene?) “For sure, bird flu issue is a lie..lie..if you will die..you die. I beg your pardon but I have been (working) since 1980. Until now I am just fine)”
Fade in 081110-68h-Fik-Saga_ atmosphere of chicken slaughter site

Nur then asked me to visit his slaughter site.
081028-68h-Fik-Saga_Nur on chicken slaughter site

(Q: what facilities are provided here?) “Water, electricity, slaughter barrel. After being slaughtered and cleaned, the chickens are put into a drum. After they die, then we boil them. Then moved to the machine and put on the table.” (Q: Can consumers directly watch the process?) “Yes, they can.”

Next to the slaughter site, Nur’s workers rested while watching television on a bamboo couch.  At the other corner, some clothes and towels belong to the workers were hanging just like that under the bed.

081028-68h-Fik-Saga_Nur on not staying overnight and soap

(Q: what is this place above for?) “Oh.. this is a place for my workers to change clothes. Do they stay overnight here? Oh..no, this is just for changing clothes. They go home directly. Do you provide soap and other hygiene equipments? Yes, there is soap. After slaughtering they directly take a bath.)”

Fade in 081028-68h-Fik-Saga_atmosphere at Jatinegara Market Fade out

That was a bit description of poultry management in the traditional market Jatinegara Jakarta.  What about poultry management in BSD modern market in Serpong? You can listen to the story right after the break

Fade in 081028-68h-Fik-Saga_  atmosphere at Jatinegara Market

Part 2_Poultry management in BSD modern market

Fade in 081029-68h-Fik-Saga_atmosphere at BSD modern market, Tangerang, Banten (noisy sound of the market and kindergarten kids)

Many kindergarten pupils were marching. Sometimes their accompanying teachers warned them not to get out of the line. These kids were visiting Bumi Serpong Damai (BSD) modern market, Tangerang, Banten.   

Fade out

Just like its name, modern market. It is far from wet, dirty and smelly like in other traditional markets. With this situation, visitors feel comfortable to shop. Even it becomes a good place for learning.
081029-68h-Fik-Saga_Anda on BSD modern market

This modern market was initially a traditional market. It was established in 1990. In 2004 we relocated and in July 2004 we opened again. So a wet traditional market with bad smell was moved to a better place.) It was Anda Saenan, Commercial Area Manager of BSD Market.

Fade in 081029-68h-Fik-Saga_atmosphere at BSD modern market Tangerang, Banten_two

You mentioned some efforts that have been conducted to prevent bird flu virus spread.
081029-68h-Fik-Saga_Anda on some efforts to prevent bird flu

“Currently our market is just clean market but not a healthy market yet. According to the standards of the Ministry of Health, there should be no live birds sold in the market, should be in the form of carcass or ready to cook. At our market there are still some vendors selling live poultry but not many of them. Our efforts to minimize the possibility of bird flu occurrence is that twice a week we spray the market with disinfectant. For slaughter sites outside of the market, we spray disinfectant everyday …”

Fade in 081029-68h-Fik-Saga_atmosphere with the sound of poultry in BSD market Fade out

Widya was one of consumers buying poultry in the market. This resident of Serpong admitted that she comes to the market every week.

081029-68h-Fik-Saga_ on the efforts to prevent bird flu

(Q: Why do you buy chicken carcass in this market?) “I do not want to buy from supermarket, it takes long time to wait, and it is also not guaranteed. Here we can see directly (see the condition of poultry). (Q: To prevent AI transmission, what do you do?) “Actually native chicken is better. But if the chicken is healthy, I will buy…)”

Fade in 081029-68h-Fik-Saga_atmosphere with the sound of poultry  in BSD market Fade out

There are 7 live poultry vendors, the other 24 vendors sell poultry products ready to cook or carcass. Each vendor has kiosk with the size of 2 m by 2 m..

Fade in 081029-68h-Fik-Saga_atmosphere with the sound of poultry in BSD market

One of the tricks used by vendors to prevent bird flu transmission is by always taking care of their personal hygiene and the kiosk. Enjum Marwan described:

081029-68h-Fik-Saga_Enjum on personal and kiosk hygiene

“When we finish our trading at around 1 pm, we do cleaning. So the cage is not dirty with chicken’s feces. (if cage is clean) consumers become interested to buy. (Q: What about you and your children, how do you prevent bird flu?) “Just to keep clean, not dirty. We wear plastic so that our body is not dirty. (Q: Do you wear boots?) “Yes, we do.”

The same measurement is also done by other poultry trader, Rosikin.

081029-68h-Fik-Saga_Rosikin on fresh poultry for sale

“Yes, we have to sell fresh chicken. We also check the quality. We can differentiate the healthy and unhealthy product).”

While slaughtering chickens, Rosikin’s wife explained the hygiene facilities in the trading area.
081029-68h-Fik-Saga_Tri on hygiene facilities

(Q: What are the things provided here ma’am?) “There is tap water. Soap to wash hand. And then in the afternoon we do sterilization)  From the live poultry section, I moved out to poultry slaughter location.”
Fade in 081117-68h-Fik-Saga_atmosphere with the sound of chickens in BSD slaughter site. The distance is 10 meters from BSD market location. Fade out

The slaughter site is located indoor. There are four slaughter sites. During the visit, the feathers and feces were scattered everywhere. Many chickens ready to be slaughtered were put in plastic cages in the corner of the building.  Hermino is a poultry slaughterer.

081117-68h-Fik-Saga_Mino on poultry slaughtering

(Q: when the chickens are brought in, are they brought here or directly to market?) “They come here first, for sure. Many of them. My boss has supplies of 300 chickens, supplied at dawn from Cengkareng and Ciputat).”

081117-68h-Fik-Saga_atmosphere with the sound of chickens in BSD market slaughter house

National Committee of Bird Flu Control finds that live poultry separation is a proper step taken by BSD market. As described by the vice chairman, Emil Agustiono

081029-68h-Fik-Saga_Emil on government efforts

“Iit is important to separate live poultry from the kiosk. So they are separated, cleaned thoroughly in one day, if possible to have a rest day. Government and FAO with donors have developed healthy market, to make traditional market cleaner and free from zoonotic viruses, actually not only bird flu.)”

Emil admitted it is not easy to change more than thirteen thousand traditional markets in Indonesia which are wet, dirty and smelly to become clean and neat like BSD market.

081029-68h-Fik-Saga_Emil on healthy market

“That is why our duty is to encourage local government to understand more that traditional market is one of bird flu source of infection. The constraint is about lack of understanding. For funding, it can be from two sources, from National Budget or Regional Budget and from donors. And we would like to get funding from private sector. Other poultry industry can contribute to develop healthy traditional markets. Besides becoming a clean market, BSD market is also ready to be designated as a pilot project of healthy market in Indonesia.”

Back to the Commercial Area Manager, Anda Saenan

081029-68h-Fik-Saga_Anda on BSD market ready as a pilot project

“National committee of bird flu talks on the paper only or theory, so it’s a bit difficult. They should make a pilot project that can be an example especially for all over Indonesia. How you control bird flu, how to become a healthy market.” (Q: And is BSD market ready to be a pilot project?) “Hopefully if we see the current situation with traditional market, maybe BSD market is easier to do it, but that does not mean that other markets are worse.)  Action taken by BSD market to prevent bird flu virus transmission should be adopted by other traditional market managements. Some traditional market managements, vendors and slaughterers are lacking of bird flu danger threat awareness, therefore related government should pay attention on this matter. Consumers also have to remain in alert and observe the condition of market and poultry when doing shopping anywhere.”
This is  SAGA KBR68H, I am Taufik Wijaya, thank you for listening.

By Luh De Suriyani
Bali

The change of season happened in the late of 2007 on Nusa Penida Island, Klungkung District, Bali.  A veterinarian who is working there, I Gede Nyoman Bayu Wirayudha suddenly reported a number of sudden dead poultry to Livestock, Fishery and Marine Service of  Klungkung District.

“Actually the chickens had been vaccinated with ND (newcastle desease or tetelo),” he wondered. He assumed it happened due to lower immunity of the chickens because of the change of season from hot weather to rainy.

In August 2007, local Livestock Service conducted rapid test and declared that the dead chickens were infected by Avian Influenza (AI), more known as bird flu.

Bayu started to worry on this issue because he is also the Director of Begawan Giri Foundation, which just started to free Balinese mynahs (Leucopsar rothschildi) on Nusa Penida at the end of 2007. “We also have to be aware of wild birds, not only on chickens,” he reminded.

One month after the AI case finding on Nusa Penida Island, in September 2007 hundreds of  people were busy with the preparation of huge ceremony at Dalem Ped Temple, Nusa Penida Island. This great work lasted for one month. Although it is located across Bali Island, this temple is often visited by people from outside of Nusa Penida Island.

In the end of the year, Participatory Disease Searching and Response (PDSR) teams responded immediately in controlling Bird Flu. There were  40 bird flu cases found on Nusa Penida.

The rate of AI case finding is considered high on Nusa Penida Island, a small island that produces seaweed, and it surprised the local Livestock Service.

“How is it possible that bird flu has already flown away across the island? “There is no poultry farm there, isn’t it?” a Veterinarian, I Gusti Ngurah Badiwangsa Temaja, the head of Animal Head Section of Livestock Service, Fishery and Marine of  Klungkung District asked himself.

He described Nusa Penida  as a place which is not good for Avian Influenza virus to live in because it is hot, virus will die soon. He thought so. Then, the most important is that there are no farming centers or even medium-scale farms there and also there is no animal slaughter site.

Badiwangsa and his office colleagues could not find  reasons how it is exactly the flow of  of  bird flu occurence on the island which is now starting to be visited by many tourists.

Meanwhile, AI infected poultry case in Klungkung District is increasing. The case findings spreaded in 19 villages in  Klungkung in 2007.

Most of infected villages were not farming centers. There is only one duck farm, which is located in Takmung Village in the suburb, near coast.

Seven months later, in April 2008, Badiwangsa was just able to map risk factors of AI transmission in Klungkung after conducting survey by directly observing and interviewing using questionnaire. According to the survey result, most AI cases were found following traditional and religious ceremonies in  Klungkung. “Indirectly, traditional ceremonies and religious rituals contribute to AI transmission in Bali,” said  Badiwangsa.

“I think, this survey result can be generalized for all districts, that the risk of transmission is quite high when there is a use of poultry  in a big quantity  i.e.  for traditional  ceremonies in Bali,” he said calmly.

According to him, the main problem is the background of poultry to be sacrificed as offering in the ceremony. “The poultry have travelled inter-districts and cities for long time until they arrive in the transit at Galiran Market,” said  Badiwangsa mentioning the biggest poultry market in Klungkung or even in Bali.

As the biggest poultry market in Bali, Galiran Market is the center of poultry coming from different districts outside Bali either legally or illegally. Therefore poultry sold at this market have to travel long time from other districts or provinces. Then, from this market the poultry are purchased for consumption and also for the needs of traditional ceremonies.

Aside from that, the survey result shows risk factors of AI transmission which is not really significant including the origin of poultry  for consumption, the habit of throwing dead poultry into a ditch, the presence of commercial farm in the village and duck grazing during post-harvest period.

According to Badiwangsa, water flow is a media of bird flu transmission. Some chickens and ducks given as offerings in the traditional and religious ceremonies are cleaned in the river bank by people who work together to prepare hundred kinds of offerings. This method is more efficient and faster due to big quantity of animals to be cleaned.

Poultry has very important meaning in the implementation of traditional and religious ceremonies in Bali. Since a Balinese person was born, he/she has been blessed with various Manusa Yadnya ceremonies such as ceremony to celebrate a baby at the age of 3 months, 6 months, adult  and  death ceremony. It is definite that one of the offering facilities is chicken, served cooked or for caru (sacrifice).
***

In early October 2008, around  40 kilometers from Badiwangsa’s office in Klungkung, hundreds of people were busy preparing massive ngaben ceremony in Pekarangan Sub village, Manggis Sub district, Karangasem District.

Tens of people were involved, working together with other hundreds of village citizens. They were busy preaparing various eguipments for  pitra yadnya ceremony, a way to show the last dedication to the most beloved person who has passed away.

Ngaben, a holy ceremony can cost millions even hundred millions. One of the highest expense is slaughtering animals for offering and consumption of people who are involved for many days in the ceremony.

Wayan Madia, Kelian Adat (the head of local traditional village) called his people for a meeting to start the ritual of slaughtering chickens, ducks and pigs for offering and consumption. Around 100 male teenagers and adults were ready with their knives brought from home.

Tens of chickens and ducks have been caged since three days before. “Chickens, duck and pigs must be in good quality and may not be sick. It is difficult for us to buy pigs because they have to be pigs with shining black fur,” said Madia.

Animal for offering for traditional or religious ceremonies usually should have soft fur or feathers in accordance with the philosophy of its ritual. For example, dark black chicken is offered to god Siwa. White chicken is for god Wisnu.

Men who are ngayah (working volunterally) at that time were divided into three groups. The first group was to slaughter, the second group was to  clean the feathers/fur and the last one was to clean the giblets.

Blood was scattered in front of the banjar (village office), a venue where usually traditional meeting is held. Poultry feathers were piled up everywhere. Some were sticked on the sandals.

The noise was getting louder in the man group which has duty to clean the organs inside of the poultry stomach. Containers with warm water are filled with dirt from inside of the chickens and ducks that are  mixed in one container.

Dark and strong smelly water is then thrown away into the street. Water is quickly absorbed by  soil and grass in the surrounding area, leaving poultry feces and its residue.
“It is better to work in the river. The dirt can directly be washed away, not floating like this,” said a resident.

As clean water from PDAM (Drinking Water Local Government Company) has already been provided to this sub village since 5 years ago, people do not use  the river a lot. Only cows, livestock that have been raised many by people take bath in the river recently. Small paths along the river are now difficult to walk through because they are covered by thick  trees.
“Animal for offering cannot be infected by disease. It is not possible to be infected by bird flu because we choose the healthy and  best animal,” said Madia.

Ida Jero Mangku Ketut Suparta, one of pemangku (leader of religious ceremony) in this sub village agreed with Madia. “Before animal is given for offering, it has been through a ceremony and sprayed with tirta (holy water). It is believed that the animal is already holy and ready to become caru (sacrifice),” he said in Balinese language.

A number of people who had heard conversation about bird flu suddenly joined the conversation. They supported the conclusion that original poultry from Bali will not be possible to infected by bird flu. “Only Javanese poultry which can be infected. “Here, we do not have the risk,” said a resident.

“The ones which died due to bird flu were from Java,” continued I Nengah Geria, the only poultry farmer in this sub village.

Geria’s statement is not fully correct, because even when Bali had closed the entry gate for poultry from outside Bali, still bird flu cases were found. However, Geria’s belief has been agreed by other people and farmers. “This is one of the difficulties of the effort to change the behaviour of poultry handling in   Bali,” said Badiwangsa.

Up to this October Bali has reported 2 people died due to AI infection. One of the cases happened to Ni Luh Putu Sri Widiantari, 29 years, a resident of Negara sub district, Jembrana district last year, she died due to H5N1 positive infection, the cause of bird flu.

Compared to other areas like West Java, DKI Jakarta, and East Java, the case in Bali is relatively small. However, the social impact of bird flu in Bali is much bigger than the impact on the health itself. It happens because Bali become the Indonesia’s  ‘shop window’  in the eyes of international due its position as tourism destination. Even small case in Bali will become the international limelight.

Due to its position as the mirror of Indonesia in the international eyes, the government of Bali especially at the early stage was also defensive in facing this case. In 2004, there was a researcher who found this case in Bali but government refused it. “The fact that I submitted is based on academic study, but apparently it was brought into the political interest,” said I Gusti Ngurah Mahardika, a researcher at Veterinary Medicine Faculty of Udayana University Bali who found the case in June 2004.

Bali itself is still vulnerable to experience epidemic of this case. Therefore, the government of Bali is now actively conducting bird flu control campaign. For example, campaign on safe chicken consumption to minimize the suspicion of tourists against the quality of food in Bali as well as  education to farmers both on bird flu disease and the hygiene and sanitation of chicken house, conducting insectiside spraying with  iodine, formalin and other substances.

They also have depopulated sick and dead animals by burning and burying them, restrict visits to the field by service workers or private health division as well as prohibit sick chicken trading or chickens from infected areas in Java.

Therefore, since 27 October 2003 Livestock Service of Bali has closed its area to poultry from Java Island. Governor Bali’s regulation (Pergub) Number 44/2005 concerning Temporary Closure of Poultry Entry and Transit from outside Bali.

“The closure measure has given siginificant result in controlling AI virus because we believe that AI is brought by poultry outside of Bali,” said Ida Bagus Ketut Alit, the Head of Livestock Service Bali.  Up to now, the Governor’s Regulation is still valid. Ketut Alit said that there is no intention to revoke the prohibition because AI case is still found in Bali. The last PDSR AI finding was in last March in five native chickens in Karangasem District.

Livestock Service of Bali Province recorded the highest poultry death  rate due to AI in 2004, it was 722 thousand chickens. Two years later the rate was decreased sharply up to 2000 chickens on average and increased again in 2007 as many as 14,679 chickens. In 2007 it also recorded the highest incidence rate within the last six years, that was 188 incidences. It means the exposed area is getting wider.

Ketut Alit asked farmers and community members who raise free ranging poultry in the backyard (backyard farming) to be more alert to prevent bird flu infection approaching rainy season by the end of this year.

“The situation of avian influenza (AI) currently in Bali is under controlled. But we hope early alert toward rainy season which is vulnerable to influenza transmission,” said Alit at his office.

Effort from government only is not enough because generally Balinese people believe more in supranatural things or invisible power  (niskala) than in the visible one (sekala).

This is also believed by Wayan Werti, 32 years, a resident of Klungkung who is also a duck farmer. “Since I was teenager, I have been taking care thousands of livestock. I believe in God, it is not possible to be infected by strange diseases. If they are infected by the disease, there must be other people who are jealous of my business and creates disease to me,” this woman said very convincingly.

According to Werti the man made disease  is a kind of  guna-guna or black magic from other person who does not like to see the success of becoming duck hatchery farmer. “If bird flu does exist, it is only in the market because of chickens coming from Java. It does not exist in the people houses,” he said.
The result of research by Badiwangsa says differently. The result of analysis on 641 respondents of households and the heads of 18 sub villages  and 25 sub villages which are not infected shows the  risk factors that mainly cause infection of AI outbreak are traditional and religious ceremonies.

It is caused by the origin of poultry for consumption and traditional ceremony, the habit of throwing poultry carcass into a ditch and garbage bin, the presence of market village and animal farm in a village. In addition, the risk factors are duck farming in the rice field during post-harvest period and a number of traditional ceremonies held in a sub village.

From all respondents as many as 93% of them raise poultry, mostly are chickens, then duck, manila duck and geese. Almost all of them is household-scale farmers where they raise the poultry in their backyard (backyard farming).

Respondents reported their poultry which died suddenly following a religious holiday celebration (44%), and following traditional ceremony (28%).

Data found by PDSR shows AI infection in poultry had been found a lot in 2007, that was 526 poultry. Badiwangsa marked on the map of Klungkung District with red and green dots, a sign of AI case finding in poultry.

“Although most people own poultry, they do not want to use their own poultry to be made as  banten (sacrifice). They prefer to buy from market and collector yard, ” said Badiwangsa.

The same thing is done by residents of Dawan Kaler village, Dawan sub district, Klungkung. The head of Dawan Kaler village, Kadek Sudarmawa, 34 tahun, even admitted that he loves tens of his native chickens.
Every three months he needs native chickens for religious ceremonies. Almost all of them are bought at the market, actually he could slaughter his own chickens which are free ranging in the backyard.

“Almost all people here raise native chickens in their backyard. If the price in the market is very expensive, then I will use my own chickens,” said Sudarmawa with smile.

Every six months, when religious ceremonies are held at some big temples in that village, the need for chicken and duck is very high.

In 2007, village was shocked by two cases in a row which happened to native chickens belonged to two families in the village. Sudarmawa initially did not believe that bird flu had infected favorite chickens of the people in the village. Eventually, it was confirmed by a veterinarian who did rapid test in the dead chickens.

First case of AI was found in dead native chickens belonged to Wayan Sukadana. Three days in a row since 19 August 2007, five sudden dead native chickens. While this man of 60 years old has only 11 chickens which are raised without cages in the backyard. Quick response team or PDSR of Klungkung District declared that the five dead chickens were postive infected by bird flu.

Local PDSR team then conducted depopulation or focal culling of six chickens belonged to Sukadana. In addition, they also conducted disinfection spraying and education on poultry handling. The next day PDSR conducted massive AI vaccination for poultry raised by local people.
Few days later, people of Dawan Kaler village was shocked again with the finding of  sudden dead chickens. This time, it was reported by Komang Warsana, the head of Kayehan Dawan Kaler village, to Animal Health Post in the village.

“I was suspicious because the day before the chickens were healthy, the next morning they directly died. Actually I was going to use them for traditional ceremony,” complained Warsana. He did not dare to touch his chickens because he remembered bird flu case in his neighbour chickens.

Local veterinarian team finally ensured that his chickens were AI positive. “I don’t believe it, almost all people have native chickens in their houses. I gave in my 30 native chickens to be burnt,” said the man of two kids sadly.

After the two incidences, people  often talk the possibility of AI transmission sources during sangkepan (meeting) at the village center. One of the suspicious things is the behaviour of some people who throw away chicken carcass into the river or in the backyard. “If there is a carcass in the backyard, usually dog will take it away and bring it around the area,” said Warsana.

Aside from that, people agree not to throw away chicken carcass recklessly the leftover of  caru (offering in the form of poultry sacrifice) from traditional ceremony into the river. “During every sangkepan  people are always reminded regarding this issue and bird flu alert because almost all of people raise native chickens in the house,” said the head of  Sudarmawa village.

I Gusti Ngurah Mahardika, a researcher at laboratory Biomedic and Animal Molecular  of Udayana Denpasar University said that the habit of people after buying poultry for ceremony is that the poultry is not slaughtered immediately. This makes poultry that have been purchased will possibly contact other poultry in the house.
Technically, AI virus can survive in wet feces for 7-10 days. Apart from that, it also lives on the feathers, egg skin and giblets. “AI does not exist in cooked meat and egg,” he said.

Therefore Mahardika also agrees with Badiwangsa, the behaviour of slaughtering animals especially for traditional ceremony has to be changed. “Do not clean and slaughter chicken in the river bank or water spring. It will be better if people buy slaughtered chicken in the market for ceremony, so they do not need to slaugheter the chiken at home ,” he said.
Badiwangsa in his survey report recommends to restructure village market as the place of trading and also as animal slaughter site. People are expected to start buying slaughtered poultry for traditional ceremony. “But the tradition of working together to slaughter animal before traditional ceremony is very difficult to change. Suggestion to buy carcass for ceremony is difficult to be implemented,” he said.

Therefore he chooses the solution to be more actively campaigning that poultry to be used for ceremony as well as the leftover of slaughtering should be handled in accordance with the guidelines of bird flu control.[*]

By Luh De Suriyani
Bali

Woman can be a succesful farmer and the agent of behaviour change. Not many people have realized the potency of woman as it is considered as God’s will. Woman is also the executor of traditional ceremonies in Bali. One of  activities that has risk of  Avian Influenza (AI)  transmission.

Kadek Andariani, 32 years, is a medium-scale farmer in Pekarangan Sub-village, Karangasem District. She and her husband manage two male chickens houses in which if they are full, the number of chickens is around 3,000.

Across the chicken houses there are three pig houses. A female pig is just tied up in a tree trunk. Bathing in the mud. Tens of native chickens are roaming in the backyard and around the cages. The chickens are provided with egg tray in the corners of  a hut or other shaded site.

The noise is outside of the residence’s wall, but it is attached to the residence. There is only one chicken cage with the size of 9 square meters in the residence.

This cage is specicifically made for expensive chickens, they are sold especially for caru (sacrifice for traditional ceremony) as it is included as madan chicken.  Madan chicken is a name for chicken with specific color of feathers which is in line with the needs for  banten (offering) caru. For example, black (siap selem), plain white, or red-black-white (brumbun).

“The price of each madan chicken of 2 weeks old  can be Rp 40 thousands. Not bad for income,” explained Kadek. Therefore, he places a board in front of her house, “Selling Bebanten Chicken.” The income from selling these banten chickens  often become the main income for  Kadek’s family.

Kadek’s house is located in the middle of coconut, pineaple, banana trees and other plants. The trees are grown up naturally and they are not planted deliberately.  The harvest result is used only for traditional ceremony, and sold if too much.

Kadek is the only farmer with chicken houses in the sub village. She got the skills of raising chickens when her husband, Nengah Geria was a security guard at breeding or day old chicken (DOC)  company in Denpasar.

Other people, almost all of them have tens of native chickens which are raised in the backyard (backyard farming).

Everyday, Kadek manages his time between taking care of her two children and works at chicken houses. The paralysis in some part of her body does not hamper her to work. About 10 years ago, Kadek got a motorcycle incidence and she was declared of being total paralysed because her nerves were broken. She went through the difficulty for medication and keep doing theraphy with different doctors, blood theraphy expert, or shaman. Recently, her hands and some of her body are able to move but it is not perfect anymore.

The time has come for chicken vaccination with  tetelo or newcastle desease (ND) vaccine. The disease often make farmers lose a lot. In Bali bird flu is more known with the term of grubug, it means massive death.

“Please wear your mask, De,” she reminnded her husband. Reluctantly, Nengah Geria took his mask which was hanging in the ceiling of the chicken house. Geria is not comfortable wearing mask. This is a new habit for him following bird flu outbreak in Bali in 2004. “I feel uneasy wearing mask in the chicken house,” he said.

After making sure that Ketut Widi, her 2 years child is asleep, Kadek helped his husband to administer vaccination. With the half-paralysed fingers, but it does not affect her deftness to grab chickens and dropped the vaccine quickly

She spent two hours to vaccinate around 2,500 chickens Really tiring. After vaccination, Kadek cleaned up all equipments and washed them.

Now her chicken houses are clean. Drink containers have been washed cleanly. Just need to spray disinfectant. Kadek undoubtfully spares special budget to buy disinfetant liquid approximately  Rp 200 thousands per 5 litres. “I often put more than the disinfectant recommendation so that the germs will be died totally,” she said.

“Do not forget to take bath  before entering house,” he asked her husband.

Washing hand and taking bath are two simple activities that she always reminds her husband to do so. “I have a baby. We anticipate not to bring disease to the bed room,” he said.

Bird flu outbreak in some areas do not dicourage the expectation of Kadek’s family to improve her husbandry farming. She believes that proper maintenance and keeping hygiene can prevent from the AI virus. “AI case in Karangasem must be caused by chicken feces that is piled up and not sprayed,” she said regarding AI infection in a number of chickens in  Karangasem previously.

Women in Bali are not only skillful in handling the hygiene of poultry and themselves, but most of them also the key of the implementation of traditional ceremonies.

On that day, 8 November 2008 there was Tumpek Kandang ceremony,  ritual to honor animals by Hindus in Bali. This Tumpek is celebrated once in very six months. It is believed that animals are human partner on earth that give significant contribution to life.

Komang Sriwati, 42, farmer in Tunjuk Tengah Sub village, Tabanan District, Bali for the last one month has been busy with the preparation of huge ceremony at Datua Temple, sacred place for the surrounding people.

This Datua Temple Piodalan (a kind of celebration of anniversary day) is always held at the smae time with Tumpek Kandang ceremony. “We believe that the keeper of this Temple gives safety for animals and livestock in the surrounding area. Every Tumpek, we always worship here and ask for tirta (holy water) to be spattered around the animal houses,” siad Sriwati while waiting for the distribution of the holy water at the temple with other tens of people.

Coincidently, during this Tumpek Kandang, Datua Temple has just been renovated and pecaruan besar was just conducted as the form of sacrifice. The animals for sacrifice to Caru Panca include dog of one month old  and chickens of five color group.

Most people came to the temple were women. “Our duty is to make banten (offering)  and will conduct mebanten (worship ritual) at the animal houses when we arrive at home,” said Sriwati.

Women in Balinese traditional clothes were waiting for all procession of the ceremonial main event at the temple for half a day. Almost all stages were conducted and instructed by women in the village except to strike a gong (musical gong to accompany the ceremony) and the main leader of the ceremony is a priest.

Now the time has come to give the holy water and  canang (banten in the form of flower arrangement) like a bless. Three members of ceremonial committee deftly received offerings from people such as rice, incense, and sugar to be exchanged with holy water and a canang sari.

Sriwati penetrated deftly into the crowd. Her left hand was holding a heavy banten of flower arrangement and fruit while her right hand was seen to bring the holy water.

She did not waste her time to fix her banten which was a bit broken because it was touched by others. She efficiently took her motorcycle from the parking lot. Kamen (cloth used for wraparound) which wrapped her feet did not hamper her to run the motorcycle manually.

It took only ten minutes from Datua Temple to her house. Without having lunch, Sriwati directly went to her chicken cage across her house. At that time, the cage was empty.  “Hopefully 3000 DOCs will come by the day after tomorrow” she said.

A schedule of vaccination and basic regulations on chicken house management are attached on the door of chicken house, which has the size of around 20 x 10 meters.

While her husband, Nyoman Nawi, 43, was preparing the bamboo partition for the chicken house. The DOCs will be contained tightly for the first week with warming equipment. That is why it is required to build bamboo wall to isolate the DOCs.

There is no smell of feces or trace of chicken feathers in the very clean chicken house. Three big fans are hanging in the ceiling of the chicken house. Small pipes of water flow are transverse, forming a special pattern. “For the last one year, I don’t need to be busy anymore to fill in the driking water containers. Water pipe automatically opens if there a chicken pecks the drinking water container,” explained Sriwati while preparing  banten  for Tumpek Kandang.

The sterilized cage was prepared for almost a week. Chicken feces is thrown away into a  hole which is specially made to burn dead chickens around five meters from the chicken house. After that, the chicken house is sprayed with formalin.

For almost two weeks they emptied the chicken houses, everyday Sriwati and her husband spray disinfectant two times, in the morning and in the afternoon. Lastly, he scattered husk. “So that the feces is not sticked on the floor. It is not wet because the feces liquid is absorbed by the husk. “It is much easier to clean and burn,” explained Sriwati.

Her husband works as an army officer, his office is at the local Koramil (Military Headquarters at the sub district level). Therefore, Sriwati feels that she is the most responsible for her chickens, although she admitted that she made division of responsibilities with her husband to take care them.

“The farm does really help the family income. No matter how huge is the issue of bird flu, we will not stop. Even now there are many people become farmers in this sub village,” explained Serma Nyoman Nawi, Sriwati’s husband.

This couple started their farming business in 2002. A year later, more than two million chickens died in Bali, it was assumed as bird flu oubreak which also occured in some areas in Indonesia. Around 500 chickens belonged to Sriwati also died, but she believed it caused by grubug (tetelo). It was the same like the assumption of the Indonesian government then.

A neighboring village, Senganan village, Tabanan, became the venue for the massive chicken depopulation because it is one of the biggest poultry farming center in Bali. About 300 thousand chickens have been culled.
“ We believe that proper handling can prevent from bird flu” answered Sriwati with smile.

Sriwati also believes that prevention action in the form of niskala (abstract) can protect her chickens. She started the offering for Tumpek Kandang by cleaning pelangkiran, a kind of wooden container, a place for worship conduct. The pelangkiran is hanging in the north east of the chicken house, it is a holy direction based on Hindu’s belief in Bali.

“I offer white chicken for sacrifice to Sang Rare Angon that is believed to give protection to livestock. And to give my gratitude for the livestock as my source of livelihoods so far,” Sriwati explained the meaning of her Tumpek Kandang offering.

Rare Angon is known as a legend who loved his work as a sheperd.

The belief of Sriwati dan her husband has also influenced some neighbors. For the last three years one by one new farmer comes into the business in the village.

One of them, Putu Satriani, 28, and her husband Wayan Sudana, 37. They just started the farming business one and half years ago. Previously, Sudana worked as a labour (stone cutter). Now, after doing farming, they begin to see better future for their two kids.

“Once I was afraid because of bird flu due to the virus which is invisible. But my high spirit beat my fear to do farming. Now, if my chicken house is empty, I feel bad. I am more afraid if my chickens are sick,” said Satriani.

According to her, bird flu is a challenge of life. She admitted that she has been trying to prevent from the infection by simple actions such as washing hands frequently.

With niskala, she also has different way to protect her chickens “Every time we finish harvest, we slaughter one of the healthiest and biggest chicken for banten (offering). So that the next harvest will  also be good,” Satriani smiled.

Satriani admitted that she has never received any education on bird flu prevention. She learned about management of cage hygiene and other issues from her neighbors and other senior farmers like Sriwati.

I Gusti Ngurah Mahardika, a veterinarian who conducted bird flu research intensively said that the role of women is very vital in a sustainable AI prevention. First, as the key for communication with children, other women and her relatives.

“Don’t ever let children playing with sick chickens. This warning is the most effective way done by women who more frequent in observing children at home,” he said.

Aside from that, according to Mahardika, women have been so far as the key of behaviour change in controlling bird flu such as in handling the hygiene of the chicken house and the individual.

In addition , women also have higher risk to get bird flu infection. “This is in line with the result of research conducted by Badiwangsa that one of the risk factors of AI transmission in Bali is traditional ceremony,” added Badiwangsa who is also the head of laboratory of Biomedic and Animal Molecular of Udayana University Denpasar.

Ida Bagus Ketut Alit, the Head of Livestock Service of Bali admitted that there is no special outreach program for women in bird flu education. According to him, women can quickly change the behaviour in handling poultry due to their instinct.

Coordinator of  Participatory Disease Searching and Response (PDSR) Bali drh. Wayan Sukanadi in approaching community always emphasizes on quick response if there is sick poultry of sudden dead poultry.

“Some AI cases in Bali have been revealed due to community response. It is still difficult to change the behaviour of farmers totally because public awareness is not maximum yet, such as throwing  chicken carcass into the river ,” he said

Mahardika emphasized that it not necessary to have advanced knowledge to  break the AI transmission cahin. The most important is behaviour change. “No need to have rocket knowledge for this,” he said. [*]

By Soebroto

Bird flu outbreak had affected farmers in Tangerang District, Banten especially poultry farmers (chicken and duck). Awi Henfri Fransiscus was one of the victims. This chicken farmer from Malangnengah Village, Pagedangan Sub district suffered great loss when many of his chickens died during bird flu outbreak in the end of 2003.

”At that time, from around 100 thousand chickens, only 20 thousand left. The others died. My loss was accumulated to Rp 2 billions,” admitted Awi at his farm, Dunia Unggas Farm, last week

Awi recalled that at the time thousands of his chickens died suddenly. The twelve chicken houses in his farm were almost all empty. ”Everyday we buried thousands of carcasses that we didn’t have space anymore,” he said sadly.

The death of those chickens could not be avoided because at that time there was no bird flu vaccine for poultry. ”If back then there was bird flu vaccine, the loss would not be that big”.

The loss were not only suffered by Awi. According to the man who has been in the business for 20 years, no less than six big farms in Malangnengah Village went bankrupt following the spread of bird flu issue.

”Now we already come back in business, my chickens now are around 75 thousands,” he informed happily.

Roy Wijayanto, a farmer from Babat Village in Legok sub district also felt the impact of bird flu on his chickens. Although none of his layers died from bird flu, but the outbreak issue spreading in Babat Village in the end of 2005 decreased his farm’s production.

”The impact was really bad. The production dropped down to 25%,” recalled Roy.

M. Imron, the head of Babat Village, said that the impact of bird flu issue very much affected his villagers. “There was no bird flu case in our village, but the government used our place to depopulate the birds. As the result, consumers did not want to to buy chickens from Babat Village,” told Imron.

The bird flu issue in Babat Village was huge following a research indicating that there were five pigs infected by bird flu virus in Kampung Ciangir. The pigs’ case then was associated with the death of one resident of Villa Mas, Serpong, Iwan Siswara Rapei (38) and his two daughters. The Iwan case is considered as the first bird flu case in human in Indonesia. Serpong sub district is in border with Legok sub district.

Due to the indication of five bird flu infected pigs, many pigs and ducks in Babat Village were culled in order to prevent virus transmission. At that time the Ministry of Agriculture banned pig and poultry including the products originating from Legok sub district and Panongan sub district of Tangerang District from being transported outside of the areas to prevent wider spread of bird flu virus transmission.

Highest case

Tangerang District is one of the highest rates of bird flu case areas. Data from the Team of Data Survey of Bird Flu Control Pilot Project Tangerang mentioned that bird flu positive cases in poultry in Tangerang District reached 70 cases out of a total 518 cases in Banten Province since August 2006 to May 2008. Bird flu cases in human are also high reaching to 17 cases (15 people died) since June 2005 until October 2008.

At present only Tangerang Municipality became the Pilot Project for Bird Flu Control. Next year Tangerang District would become similar project, as mentioned by the Head of Pilot Project Team, Moh Sudono.

Although bird flu case in Tangeranmg is high both in animal and human, the Agriculture and Livestock Service of Tangerang District was reluctant to give data on how big is the impact of bird flu to poultry farming sector. Although the Head of Agriculture and Livestock Service Deden Soemantri was contacted several times, but still he did not respond. Written answer on the question did not really explain how big the impact of bird flu against poultry farmers in Tangerang District is.

Babat Village in Legok sub-district is one of the most affected areas due to bird flu issue. It is because most of the people are raising livestock as their main source of livelihood, said Imron. Babat Village had had its glory in poultry farming business. Around the 1990s, there were more than 30 big and medium scale layer companies. The number was not including traditional community farms. According to Imron, currently there are only eight surviving big farms.

Fortunately the recent condition is back to normal. ”People are not afraid any longer to buy livestock from Babat Village,” said Imron with relief.

Roy, who is managing Buana Farm in Kampung Baru, RT 001/01 Babat Village, mentioned that farming condition has recovered. ”Now the condition is recovered, people are not as panicking as before. Farmers and community have better understanding about bird flu,” he said.

Roy is now raising no less than 70 thousand chickens. Each day his farm produces 3 tons of non-native chicken egg.

This Chinese-descendent man who has been practicing chicken farming for 15 years admitted that he implemented tight bio security towards his chickens. Buana Farm covers a-four hectares area that is far from residential areas. The surrounding is fenced with concrete and closed zinc. Not everyone can enter the farm area. Even people from outside cannot see what is happening inside the farm.

He admitted that he pays more to buy lime, formalin and vaccine. Lime is spread inside chicken houses after washing, while formalin is sprayed into chicken houses once every two week.

”The production cost increases. But we do not want to take risk because if there is one infected by bird flu, the entire flock would be gone,” he said.

Roy said that in his farm there are around 35 workers. The number could increase to 55 men when there is increasing egg production. The workers come from West Java, Central Java and East Java. They live in a housing within the farm compound.

Awi also vaccinates his chickens regularly. To prevent virus entering from outside, each vehicle entering the 7-hectare farm compound is sprayed with disinfectant. He also does not allow people approaching chicken houses except his staff.

”We do not want to take risk. Fortunately bird flu vaccine is available now, so we can be more relaxed,” he said.

Traditional farm dilemma

According to Awi, sector 3 farms usually have implemented bio security. However, he is still worried because bird flu could come from anywhere. Meanwhile in Tangerang there are many community farms which are unable to implement bio security. Even many small farmers could not afford to buy vaccine for their chickens.

Awi’s concern could be seen through Mrs. Wiwit’s livestock. Wiwit, a resident of Kampung Ciangir, Babat Village, raises various animals at her house. She has four ducks, three pigs, around 20 Muscovy ducks, and some chickens.

“I don’t know,” she said when she was asked about bird flu.

Duck’s house is on the left side of Mrs. Wiwit’s house. It is located nearby pig’s house and a mud pond for the pigs to wallow. At the house by the street, pigs are free ranging in front of it. The Muscovy duck’s cage is attached to her house. Some chickens roamed inside the dirty house with the bamboo wall.

Mrs Wiwit admitted that she raises livestock just for her own needs. The rest is sold to collectors. “Usually they come to my house,” she said.

She also said that she never received any education session on bird flu from the livestock service. “Never,” she said briefly.

However, the Head of Veterinary Public Health Section of Livestock Service Tangerang,  drh. Asmiyati, stated that her section has provided some guidance for sector 3 (commercial farm) and 4 (backyard farm) farmers. “We regularly visit villages to give education,” Asmiyati admitted.

Besides education, they also established bird flu cadres and poultry movement control.

”We apply tight bio security, depopulation and vaccination,” she said.

A professor of Veterinary Faculty of IPB (Bogor Agriculture Institute), Retno D Soejoedono said that to prevent the spread of bird flu virus, it is necessary to conduct bio security and sanitation measures. According to her, bio security measures are applied such as by cleaning cages at least with detergent leftover from washing clothes. Meanwhile, sanitation can be done through hygiene habits, for example by washing hands with soap after handling chicken.

”Put cages away from living area. Separate chicken from duck (waterfowl), vaccinate regularly,” she recommended.

Furthermore, according to her, newly bought chickens should not be mixed with the existing flock. Retno advised that it is better to cage chickens and not free ranged. “Give warning and education on good and proper farming practice. Such as the benefit of caging chickens for easier vaccination process.”

According to Asmiyati, Tangerang District is the center of poultry production. Poultry farms are located in Cikupa, Panongan, Cisoka, Ciputat, Pasar Kemis, Legok, Pagedangan, Curug, Pondok Aren, Kemeri, Rajeg, Tigaraksa, Teluknaga, and Sepatan.

Based on Perda (Local Government regulation) Number 3 of 2008 concerning areas within Tangerang District, potential areas to develop poultry production including Gunung Kaler, Jambe, Cisoka, Teluknaga, and Cisauk sub districts.

”The other sub districts, although they are poultry production center, cannot expand the business as the area is already densely populated,” she said.

Although there are many bird flu cases, but according to data, the whole production of meat and eggs in Tangerang District is continuously increasing since 2004. The number of non-native chickens, for example, from 10.877.399 chickens in 2004, increased to 11,517,246 chickens (2005), 12,157,093 chickens (2006), and 12.796.940 chickens (2007). In 2008 up to September the number has reached 8,829,889 birds.

Meanwhile for non-native layers, the increases are 1,704,675 (2004), 1,804,950 (2005), 1,905,225 (2006) and 2,005,500 (2007).

The increase also applies to egg production of non native chicken, native chicken and duck. The total egg production reached 308,993 kg (2004), 327,167 (2005), 345,345 (2006), 363,521 (2007), and 250,829 (until September 2008).

To maintain Tangerang District as poultry production center, according to Asmiyati, they provide guidance to farmers especially in sector 3 (commercial farm) and sector 4 (backyard farm).

The number of backyard farms in Tangerang District is very large. Asmiyati mentioned around 60-70 % of households are raising poultry. While farmers of sector 1, 2 and 3 comprise of 4 breeder farms, 12 broiler farms and 147 layer farms.

To assist backyard farmer in preventing bird flu danger, Awi said education only is not enough. He suggested that the government provides immediate assistance such as subsidized vaccine to farmers. “In the case of bird flu infection, all farmers would get the impact. It is very dangerous if the poultry are not vaccinated especially for free ranging ones,” he said.

Imron also proposed that backyard farmers should get more attention. ”Backyard farmers should be assisted. People here have been depending on poultry production since a long time ago, therefore it is impossible to remove the backyard farms at all,’’ he said.

To prevent the spread of bird flu in Tangerang, according to M. Sudon, it is better that poultry are not raised in residential area. Meanwhile Retno stressed the importance of bio security, sanitation and no free ranging poultry.

The current condition is a dilemma. Banning backyard farming means kills their livelihoods. On the other hand, farming style where chickens are free ranged without tight control has the risk of spreading bird flu. It is necessary to find the solutions for the goodness of all.[*]

By : Muhammad Nizar

It started in late December 2005, during rainy season that created puddles everywhere. Zulfahmi, 18 years old, together with his friends were surprised to see some chickens died floating in the water. They immediately informed other villagers. The people were shocked, what is going on? Some people initiated to find out the owners of those chickens. After some meetings, eventually they identified the owner of the dead chickens. Apparently the chickens died suddenly. The owner himself did not know what happened to his chickens. Then more chicken owners reported that their chickens died suddenly. At that time, Zulfahmi and the villagers did not put any suspicion on the many sudden deaths in chickens.

Later on, a villager who was also a national television journalist, Mukhtar, took the initiative to report the strange event to the Livestock Service of Banda Aceh City. Officers came to take blood samples from chicken carcasses. As Zulfahmi remembered, it took a week to have the result of the sample test and announced it to the anxious villagers. “The chickens that died some time ago were positively infected by bird flu or Avian Influenza” said an officer from the Livestock Service. The villagers did not know what bird flu was. This issue became a hot discussion topic in coffee shops where people often gather. They wonder why the name of the disease is bird flu. The affected ones are chickens, not birds, aren’t they? As the result, since the sample test result was officially announced, Lamdom village was declared as the first area infected by bird flu in Nanggroe Aceh Darussalam province.

Aceh government immediately took actions before the virus spread widely, through educational session for the people by the Livestock Service in cooperation with the Local Health Service. The people were requested not to be panic but should stay alert on their poultry conditions.  Government requested that potentially infected chickens are burned and buried. The people were also asked not to sell live chickens, let alone the carcasses. Hundreds of live poultry belong to Lamdom villagers were culled, burned and buried. It is the proper way to depopulate chickens infected by avian influenza (AI) virus.

Zulfahmi recalled a funny incident during the depopulation. ”At that time the villagers who did not know exactly how AI virus is transmitted, brought their chickens without wearing gloves to the front yard of musholla (place for praying), when actually they had been given gloves and mask,” he said smiling. The same condition was also seen when the people who was given the task to cull around 100 birds did not properly wear masks. The masks were used pulled under the chin or above the nose. “I was wondering to see that not only they did not wear masks, but they also did not wear gloves. What I know is that direct contact is dangerous. They just did it like slaughtering chickens for parties,” said Zulfahmi. At that time the information on the danger of bird flu was not comprehensive yet. People should wear gloves when handling chicken carcass and wear mask on the face. The slaughtered chickens should be collected in one hole, then burned and buried. Each culled chicken was compensated by the government amounting to Rp.12,500. This is the government’s effort to guarantee safety to the people and encourage support from the community to control bird flu. The benefit of this effort was proven later on. Zulfahmi himself had to give voluntarily 20 of his chickens to be culled. ”But I had to be sincere as it was indeed for the goodness of all” he said convincingly.

Lamdom Village in Lueng Bata Sub district is located just 5 km away from the center of Banda Aceh city, covering an area about 73 hectares. It is resided by 285 households and 1375 people; the surrounding is filled with many big trees. Generally one household owns a 400-m2 land; therefore it is suitable for the people to practice livestock farming. The mainland is planted with mango, sawo (sapodilla), banana trees and even thatch trees are found in some places.  If we come to this village, it looks like visiting a remote but prosperous village in Aceh, since there are still many rumah panggung (houses built on stilts), combined with concrete built houses, where in fact Lamdom is still within Banda Aceh municipality that is currently developing in various sectors.

The villagers who own chickens put the cages in their backyard approximately 3 meters away from their main houses. Since all houses have large yards, people usually free range their chickens. Pak Keuchik, (the term for village head in Acehnese) H. Usman Basyah, told the condition of Lamdom gampong (the term for village in Acehnese). There are around 40 households raising poultry including chicken and duck. “Previously our village was not well known in Banda Aceh. When people heard about Lamdom, they thought it is a remote village out of nowhere”, he said. He continued his story, “There is a blessing that bird flu was found here, our village became more famous, gets more attention, and now it represents Aceh Province to participate in the national competition of  “Gerakan Sayang Ibu or Love Mother Movement” “, he said smiling. Since the first case of bird flu was found in his village, many agencies had come to the village to conduct education sessions. “Some agencies gave education in Meunasah (mushalla/place for prayer in Acehnese). That is why we understand that it is better if chickens are caged; bird flu is transmitted through saliva, liquid discharge and feces of chicken. ” Pak Keuchik explained. He now knows more about AI control. “We in the gampong previously did not clean chicken cages by washing them with disinfectant, but now after getting the education we realize that it is very important to do so”, he said.

Besides gaining knowledge on how to control AI, the people still showed their gratitude to God for making their village free from bird flu.  It shows that as Moslems, they realizes that despite of human efforts, God has the last decision. Listen to what Saiful said, a-38 year old father of 2 children who has been living in Lamdom all his life. With his thick Acehnese language he answered, “Alhamdulillah hana le Tuhan brie jinoe (Thanks God, now God does not give bird flu anymore)”. Saiful was grateful because bird flu does not occur in his village anymore. Previously Saiful was afraid of bird flu. He was afraid to eat chicken meat, afraid that it is infected by bird flu. But after gaining some knowledge through education sessions, now he knows that properly cooked chicken meat is safe for consumption.

Saiful felt psychological impact due to bird flu in his village. There were many false and confusing news coverage. Even there was a gossip circulating in one of the media outlets that a villager died of bird flu. It is not true. As the result there were various opinions from the people outside Lamdom Village. “Ideally newspaper can convey information on bird flu proportionally to create safe feeling”, he said. But now he himself is ready to face bird flu issue with his new gained knowledge.

There are still many misperceptions about bird flu in the community. It means that the government had not given enough information to the people. Sustainable education sessions are needed for the people to understand. Just like Zulfahmi, a young man with high curiosity, who thought that the provided information was not adequate, which led him to find out more from different sources such in posters, brochures and magazines. From the reading materials he got accurate information consistent with the development in the field. Fortunately, however, up to now there is no bird flu in human reported in Nanggroe Aceh Darussalam.

In early 2008, the villagers found sudden death in chickens again. But this time they were ready, they immediately reported to the Livestock Service to conduct immediate examination. The people did not panic anymore like the first time. After the carcasses were examined, they were found positive of AI. With a quick response, there were only 15 birds were culled, burned and buried immediately. This time there was no commotion, everything happened normally or in other words, it could be controlled technically and psychologically. Chicken houses were disinfected and the remaining chickens were temporarily contained. Since most of the chicken owners were backyard farmers, their loss could be minimized.

Lamdom, the village where we started fighting bird flu, became a lesson learned for everyone both in Aceh and all over Indonesia. There were some lessons learned on the responses from the people, the government and other private sectors to enable bird flu alert to be implemented properly anywhere. [*]

By Khairul Ikhwan D

Generally, the condition of Kubu Simbelang is the same as other villages in the subdistrict of Tiga Panah, the district of Karo, North Sumatra. The farmland’s soil is fertile, the community values the tradition, and the harmony is maintained. However, people here really do not like talking about bird flu. It is not a taboo thing, it is just that they do not want to recall the trauma in the past.

“What is the use of talking about bird flu. It has passed, it is in the past. It is better to talk about other things,” said Caranta Perangin-angin (39), one of the people living in Kubu Simbelang, early December.

Avian flu was once an enormous problem for the people. The name Kubu Simbelang was prominent when the avian flu stroke greatly in mid 2006. Seven people in the village, who were relatives, passed away. Six of them were positively infected by avian influenza. This case was stated as the biggest cluster of avian influenza infection in Indonesia, and as one of the biggest in the world.

The title as the biggest cluster changed the atmosphere of the village. Simbelang which is located about 88 kilometers from Medan, the capital city of North Sumatra, was thrown into a tumult in all of a sudden. Lines of vehicles passed through the village’s road that had not been covered by asphalt. People from all kinds of circles came, World Health Organization (WHO), officials of the Agriculture Ministry, Health Ministry, provincial government officials, as well as groups of journalists. This case became headlines in mass media.

Caranta complained, “ This was actually a minor case but people exaggerated it. Most people in our community still think that it was deliberately driven to obtain projects from foreign countries.”

The Death Toll

The case, which Caranta thought was exaggerated, started when a 45-year-old woman named Puji Ginting passed away on May 4th 2006. Puji’s cause of death was not clear but what certain was the fact that two of her chickens died a couple of days before. Soon after that, Puji got sick and eventually passed away. It was strongly believed that she died because she was infected by the avian influenza, despite the fact that her blood sample had never been examined.

Learning abou this sad news, all family members made a visit of condolence and during that visit they ate chicken in the house. The following day, the late Puji’s next of kins started to get sick and treated at Kabanjahe General Hospital, in Kabanjahe the capital city of Karo. The medical examination revealed that the patients had pneumonia, cough, muscle pain, and low number of white blood cells. This condition led to the initial sympthom of avian influenza.

The patients were immediately sent to Adam Malik Central Hospital on Bungalow Street Medan as the central reference hospital for avian influenza patients. They were placed in an isolation room. Blood samples were taken and sent to Health Research and Development Office of the Health Ministry in Jakarta.

Before the results of the samples were revealed, the son of the late Puji, Roy Karo-karo (19), passed away on May 9th, one day after being treated in Medan. On May 10th, the late Puji’s sister Anta Ginting (29) also passed away. The next one was Boni Karo-karo (18), Roy’s little brother, who passed away on May 12th.

On May 13th, Rafel Ginting (8) also passed away. He was the son of Dowes Ginting (38), the late Puji’s brother. On may 14th, Anta Ginting’s daughter Breinata Tarigan who was only 1.5 years old passed away at the hospital. The last casualty was Dowes Ginting who passed away on May 22nd. Dowes had not been treated at the hospital but the result of his blood sample test showed that he was positively infected by avian influenza. The only survival from the cluster was Jonnes Ginting (27), the late Puji’s brother.

The number of the death tolls was high but the source of the disease still remained unknown. It was only assumed that victims were infected by the same source but what it was, was still a mistery. People’s fowls were indeed inspected and examined. The specimen of chicken’s cloaca and faeces were taken. Manure was also investigated, especially around the victims’ houses.

“At that time, the result did not show any sample that was positively infected by avian inluenza,” said Indah Setiowati, The Head of Animal and Fish Health Section of Karo Animal Husbandry Service.

Nevertheless, a fowl demolition was conducted in Simbelang in order to prevent the viruses from spreading.  Furthermore, the district of Karo tightened the control of cattle traffics, fowl products and manure. Two checking posts were all set. The first post was located in Doulu village, Berastagi to check vehicles carrying fowls coming from Medan. The other post was located in Merek, to check vehicles coming from Dairi District and Aceh.

Social Intimidation

It had not been ensured where the source of the avian influenza came from. Yet this case had made the people in Simbelang suffer. The news in the mass media gave negative implication because the case had made North Sumatra be considered as avian influenza extra ordinary occurrence area. People were afraid to come to Simbelang because they were scared of getting infected. Most of public transportation also refused to transport people to the village. Even worse, almost all of Simbelang’s agricultural and livestock products were rejected at the markets.

Simbelang was started to be banished. Only people who were still relatives or had the same family name wanted to visit the village.

Actually, several days after the avian influenza case occured, the Head of Karo District, DD Sinulingga, was invited to the village to eat chicken and it was proved that he was just fine and healthy. However, this activity could not erase the stigma that the village was the source of avian influenza. The banishment kept going on.

This condition caused the people of Simbelang to reject the media, journalists and all outsiders who came to the village for avian influenza issues. They even gave an ultimatum to the health researchers to leave Simbelang. Demonstrations were carried out in Karo, Medan and Jakarta. The demonstrators even took the action of drinking chicken blood brought from Karo in order to show that fowls in Karo were not contaminated by the virus.

This effort did not bring an immediate result. Owners of chicken farms carried the heaviest burden. The price of chicken which was Rp. 15.000/kg did not attract people to buy it. Various activities of eating chicen together did not boost the sales. Most of the owners of restaurants in Karo no longer provided meals with chicken.

Tarigan, one of the livestock sellers in Kabanjahe said, “It is hard to calculate the lost. But for sure it’s a lot.”

Endless Cases

The cases of avian influenza in Karo seemed endless. After Simbelang, some fowls were found dead in other areas in Karo. It even spread to some neighboring districts such as Deli Serdang, Dairi and Simalungun. Different from Simbelang, this time research found that some fowls were positively infected by avian influenza.

Stamping out of fowls were conducted in various areas, including Sumbul, Sumber Mufakat Village, Kabanjahe, which was located about 20 kilometers from Simbelang. Some Sumbul residents were sent to Adam Malik Central Hospital because they were suspected to have been infected. Eventually the results were announced to be negative.

The stamping out did not run smoothly. Some people thought that their fowls were not infected and rejected to have their fowls culled, despite the compensation of Rp. 12.500 per bird. They finally agreed to comply because of the Law No. 4/1984 about epidemic and how to overcome the pandemic. The law determined that whoever obstructs the goverment’s effort to overcome the pandemic will be imprisoned for maximum of 1 year and or will be fined maximum of Rp. 1.000.000.

The absence of improvement in Karo had made Aburizal Bakrie (Minister of People’s Welfare), Siti Fadhilah Supari (Minister of Health) and Anton Apriantono (Minister of Agriculture) went to visit Karo and Sumber Mufakat Village. At that time, all ministers and the officials wore personal protective equipment, a protective suit which was called robot suit by the local people.

Some people were offended due to the fact that their village was considered as an infected place, and they fought against it. They asked the ministers to take off their protective equipments if they wanted to enter the village. There was a debate before the robot suit was finally taken off and the discussion with the people could be conducted in the village hall.

Three Years After

Avian influenza was actually not a new thing for North Sumatra. The first case occured in May 2005 in Huta Padang Sub District, Simalungun District and was stated to be positive. The Head of Reporting and Information of the Avian Influenza Disease Control Management Unit of the Agriculture Ministry, Tjahjani Widiastuti stated that although there was no human infected, the spreading was very rapid.

“Up to December 2005, the virus had infected 14 sub districts and municipalities in North Sumatra,” said Tjahjani in the Inception Workshop, Media Partnership Program: The Human Face of Avian Influenza, a joint program between the Agriculture Ministry and The Food & Agriculture Organization (FAO) in Jakarta.

Unfortunately, this first case was not made as a lesson. When the case of avian influenza occured in Karo a year later, the local government did not seem ready. According to Caranta, the weakness of dealing with avian influenza in Simbelang was the slow response. A few of days after the first victim died, there was no significant action taken such as poultry disinfection nor medical prevention for the people. It led to a high number of death tolls.

Furthermore, existing information was confusing. For example, the Health Minister stated that the source came from manure. Later on, this was annuled with an uncertain statement. People did not obtain adequate information about the disease.

“What happened was that the government spoke more through mass media. People needed a massive handling and not massive publications which led to bad perception about Simbelang as the source of avian influenza. However, it has not been proven until now,” said Caranta.

This was evaluated as an irony. The case was enormous with a high number of victims, yet the source of the disease remained unknown. The people had already suffered when the government eventually stated that there were no fowls in Simbelang infected by avian influenza.

Cured Because of Shamanism

The people of Simbelang had been banished at least for almost three months. Things got better along with the spreading of avian influenza in North Sumatra. Within the year of 2006, the disease stroke 26 villages in 17 sub districts and 11 districts and municipalities that led to the stamping out of nearly 100.000 birds. For the people of Simbelang, the spreading corrected the assumption that Simbelang was the source of the viruses.

When Jonnes Ginting recovered from avian influenza, it became a tremendous hope in the effort to overcome the banishment. He was the only survival from the case of avian influenza cluster in Simbelang. Jonnes was a proof that avian influenza did not always end up with death. However, what brought this man to recovery was unclear. All of Jonnes’ relatives who were also treated at Adam Malik Hospital were also given tamiflu and high dose of antibiotic. Yet, only Jonnes survived.

“Until now, we do not know the reason why. It can actually be analyzed medically to find out the cause but the cost is too high and there is a strong possibility that the test must be carried out abroad,” said Professor Luhur Soeroso, the Head of Avian Influenza Team in Adam Malik Central Hospital, the place where Jonnes was taken care of for about 2,5 months.

Jonnes also had a similar question. He was still wondering about what actually cured him.

“I don’t exactly know what cured me. Probably it was the medicine given by the doctors, chinese herbal that I drank, or perhaps because I drank traditional wine when I stayed at the hospital,” said Jonnes last December.

Jonnes was treated at Adam Malik Central Hospital since May 8th 2006. During the treatment in the hospital, his family also tried alternative healings. Len Ginting, Jonnes’ uncle said that some shamans also tried to heal Jonnes remotely. The result was not satisfying so that they kept hoping and relying on the medical effort.

According to Jonnes, the period of treatment was quite torturing with continuous blood sample taking and the ingestion of various medicines. He even tried to escape after the first couple of days at the hospital.

Jonnes said, “I went to a relative’s house on Jl. Pasar II, Medan.”

Four days later, Jonnes’ relatives brought him back to the hospital because his condition worsened. To prevent him from escaping, the police guarded his room in the isolation room Rindu A.

Under a very strict monitoring, Jonnes had to comply to undergo the treatment. However he could not get away from his addiction for “tuak”, an aromatic traditional beverage made of “aren” tree. The relatives quietly gave him the drink when the doctors were not around. It could be done because the control in the isolation room was not too tight. The relatives could come and go without having to wear any masks or other protective equipments. Excpetion was only during high rank officials visits, where standard isolation procedures were conducted as written in the guide book.

Medicines From China.

While Jonnes was being treated at the hospital, someone came to his relative’s house in Kabanjahe, bringing 2 plastic bags of dried grass herbal medicines.

“That man came from Hongkong, China. He mentioned his name through his translator but I do not remember it anymore. He asked whether that was the house of Jonnes who had been infected by avian influenza as reported in mass media. When I confirmed, he directly gave the two plastic bags. He said that it was the medicine for avian influenza and he guaranteed that Jonnes would recover. After that, I delivered the medicine,” said Len Ginting.

On that day, Len Ginting had just actually came back from the hospital. He could not bear the grief since he was sure that Jonnes would not make it just like his other relatives. However after learning about the alternative medicine, he went back to Medan on that same day to give the medicine to Jonnes.

“When you pour boiling water, the grass turn the water color to solid black. Soon after drinking it, Jonnes vomitted some kind of mucus a couple of times,” said Len Ginting.

Jonnes got better after ingesting one pack of the herbal medicine. He stopped taking the herbal medicine and the remaining pack was kept. However, Len was not sure where the pack is now.

Jonnes actually left the hospital on July 20th 2008 and he had an obligation to come to Adam Malik Central Hospital once a week for check-up. Recently, a team of doctors came every six months to Jonnes’ house on Jl. Veteran, Gang Sempakata, Kabanjahe.

Luhur Soeroso said, “It is only a routine check-up. Jonnes is no longer getting treatment and he does not take any medicine anymore. He is completely recovered. However, his health will probably be monitored forever.”

In connection with Black Magic

For Jonnes, the avian influenza virus has changed a lot of things in him. Prayers and spirit were the only things he had when he was treated in the hospital. Jonnes said, “When you are infected by avian influenza, spirit is the only thing that you have. Everything is very hard to do, but you can make it.”

Ever since he recovered, Jonnes no longer worked at Kabanjahe terminal, in Kabanjahe Sub District, Karo District, North Sumatra. With his wife Amesti Br. Tarigan (25) he works on his small orange plantation in Simbelang while taking care of his two children, Raymond Ginting (7) and Veldy Ginting (3).

“Now we go to the field to earn money for our family” said Jonnes.

After feeling completely well, agriculture was Jonnes’ choice. During his treatment at the hospital, he wanted to change many things, including leaving his life at the terminal. Among the mobsters at Kabanjahe terminal, the name of Jonnes Ginting was quite respected. Three months after being released from the hospital, the police caught him because he was involved in a murder case and was sentenced 4 months in prison.

Jonnes was indeed born in a family who ruled the street. His late father Ponten Ginting was quite respected in Karo. The Ginting family was known to have high magical power, and it was believed that Jonnes inherited it. It was proven that he could survive from a black magic attact, which was called avian influenza in the mass media.

When avian influenza became an epidemic in Simbelang, some of the people did not believe that it was a disease because it hit only one family. They were more convinced that it happened because of a practice of black magic, commonly called “teluh”. For the people of Simbelang, avian influenza was a new word and as a disease name, they thought of it as a quite strange name.

“At the time, people were afraid to go out of their houses. Not only because of avian influenza, but also because of black magic practice. If it were really because of a disease, then all the people in the village would be infected too. Besides that, a chicken farm in Kacinambun Village, which is located near Simbelang, was just fine. There is not such thing as avian influenza. It is already called bird flu, similar to bird news (rumor), it is not trustworthy,” said Karsima Sembiring (20), one of the people in Simbelang.

The Head of Public Health in Karo, Diana E. Sembiring admitted the fact that many people believed in avian influenza as a practice of black magic. Some people could not accept the fact that their village was infected by avian influenza.

“Change needs time, but we keep giving them explanation. Some people have already changed their opinion,” said Diana.

Apart from the different understanding, Diana said that people were still encouraged to live healthily and with good sanitation. They were suggested to locate the coops in the distance of minimum five meter off their house. Furthermore they were advised to go to the nearest clinic if sympthoms such as high fever, difficulty in breathing, flu, cough and pain were felt.

To anticipate the occuring possibility of avian influenza case, every public clinic in Karo was supplied with 200 tablets of Tamiflu. Meanwhile, one equipped isolation room and medicines were provided in Kabanjahe Hospital for avian influenza patients which costs Rp. 1.000.000.000. Therefore there is no need to take the patient to Adam Malik Central Hospital.

The isolation room for avian influenza patients was provided at Kabanjahe Hospital due to its status as the reference hospital for avian influenza treatment. In North Sumatra there are four more similar hospitals namely Pematang Siantar Hospital, Tarutung Hospital, Padang Sidempuan Hospital, and Santa Elisabeth Hospital in Medan.

Although the anticipation was well evaluated, one of Indonesia’s parliament member Nasril Bahar from North Sumatra said that avian influenza remained a serious threat. It is proven by the fact that unlike Maluku and Gorontalo, North Sumatra is still considered as susceptible to avian influenza and has not been freed yet.

“The cases of banishment that happened to the people of Kubu Simbelang should be seen as a valuable lesson for the government. A good handling module must be prepared. The banishment happened because people do not have adequate information and that is why socialization must be conducted continuously,” said Nasril.

Nasril added, “Of course the most important thing is to avoid casualties. Eight fatalities are enough for North Sumatra.”

The last human case fatality of the avian influenza was Nerpi Sitinjak (26), a resident of Percut Sei Tuan, Deli Serdang District. She passed away on May 12th 2007, 3 days after being treated in Adam Malik Central Hospital. (*)