Indonesia on bird flu alert
http://www.smh.com.au/news/world/indonesia-on-bird-flu-alert/2005/09/20/1126982062497.html#
Indonesia has been placed on an "extraordinary" alert after doctors discovered more suspected bird flu victims.
However, the plan to control an outbreak, announced after an emergency meeting of the cabinet, descended into confusion after several ministers and Jakarta's Governor warned it would harm tourism.
The Health Minister, Siti Fadilah Supari, who earlier supported a national alert, said the outbreak was "not like the plague" while the Agriculture Minister, Anton Apriyanto, said there were no plans for mass culls of birds because Indonesians had "high resistance" to the virus.
There was also confusion over whether the alert applied nationwide or only to Jakarta.
Health officials put three more people into quarantine yesterday - two zoo employees and a five-year-old girl - bringing the total to seven. Of the four bird flu suspects earlier taken to hospital, two have tested positive. Blood samples from the other patients have been sent to Hong Kong for testing.
Authorities fear a pandemic would kill millions in Indonesia and across the region.
Mrs Supari said that under the alert, which will last for 21 days, authorities have the power to force suspected bird flu victims into quarantine, adding that the Government had assigned 44 state hospitals to treat bird flu patients, for free.
She said the outbreak was an "extraordinary national case … It's a high alert. Every region is on alert so if at any time it occurs in remote areas, we are ready."
She confirmed health officials had detected two cases of the virus after testing at Ragunan Zoo. The zoo was closed on Monday after tests showed most of its birds were infected.
Authorities in Jakarta have already begun testing birds at slaughterhouses and bird markets.
A team of international experts has flown to Jakarta to oversee the investigation into the outbreak and advise on preventative measures. Australia and other countries are discussing funding a bird cull and providing stockpiles of vaccine.
The World Health Organisation official heading the battle, Dr Hitoshi Oshitani, said yesterday the world might have just weeks to combat a pandemic before it caused a catastrophic number of deaths. If the virus mutated to one easily passed between humans, it could be impossible to control, he said.
Jakarta's Governor, Sutiyoso, who attended the emergency cabinet meeting, opposed classifying the outbreak as extraordinary, arguing it would harm tourism and investment.
He said foreign governments might issue warnings against travelling to Indonesia.
The Forestry Minister, Malam Kaban, criticised the closure of the zoo, as it could lead to the culling of all the animals. "We should not hurriedly declare that there is a case of bird flu. The people could be in panic."
Bird flu has killed 64 people in four Asian countries since it was detected in 2003.
Dr Oshitani said that in retrospect the SARS had been easy to contain. "The pandemic virus is much more difficult, maybe impossible, to contain once it starts, the geographic spread is historically unprecedented."
Dr Oshitani said that between December and February there would be a rapid increase in cases, and the more people struck down, the greater risk the virus would mutate.
http://www.smh.com.au/news/world/indonesia-on-bird-flu-alert/2005/09/20/1126982062497.html#
Indonesia has been placed on an "extraordinary" alert after doctors discovered more suspected bird flu victims.
However, the plan to control an outbreak, announced after an emergency meeting of the cabinet, descended into confusion after several ministers and Jakarta's Governor warned it would harm tourism.
The Health Minister, Siti Fadilah Supari, who earlier supported a national alert, said the outbreak was "not like the plague" while the Agriculture Minister, Anton Apriyanto, said there were no plans for mass culls of birds because Indonesians had "high resistance" to the virus.
There was also confusion over whether the alert applied nationwide or only to Jakarta.
Health officials put three more people into quarantine yesterday - two zoo employees and a five-year-old girl - bringing the total to seven. Of the four bird flu suspects earlier taken to hospital, two have tested positive. Blood samples from the other patients have been sent to Hong Kong for testing.
Authorities fear a pandemic would kill millions in Indonesia and across the region.
Mrs Supari said that under the alert, which will last for 21 days, authorities have the power to force suspected bird flu victims into quarantine, adding that the Government had assigned 44 state hospitals to treat bird flu patients, for free.
She said the outbreak was an "extraordinary national case … It's a high alert. Every region is on alert so if at any time it occurs in remote areas, we are ready."
She confirmed health officials had detected two cases of the virus after testing at Ragunan Zoo. The zoo was closed on Monday after tests showed most of its birds were infected.
Authorities in Jakarta have already begun testing birds at slaughterhouses and bird markets.
A team of international experts has flown to Jakarta to oversee the investigation into the outbreak and advise on preventative measures. Australia and other countries are discussing funding a bird cull and providing stockpiles of vaccine.
The World Health Organisation official heading the battle, Dr Hitoshi Oshitani, said yesterday the world might have just weeks to combat a pandemic before it caused a catastrophic number of deaths. If the virus mutated to one easily passed between humans, it could be impossible to control, he said.
Jakarta's Governor, Sutiyoso, who attended the emergency cabinet meeting, opposed classifying the outbreak as extraordinary, arguing it would harm tourism and investment.
He said foreign governments might issue warnings against travelling to Indonesia.
The Forestry Minister, Malam Kaban, criticised the closure of the zoo, as it could lead to the culling of all the animals. "We should not hurriedly declare that there is a case of bird flu. The people could be in panic."
Bird flu has killed 64 people in four Asian countries since it was detected in 2003.
Dr Oshitani said that in retrospect the SARS had been easy to contain. "The pandemic virus is much more difficult, maybe impossible, to contain once it starts, the geographic spread is historically unprecedented."
Dr Oshitani said that between December and February there would be a rapid increase in cases, and the more people struck down, the greater risk the virus would mutate.
Come on, NC, can't you dispense with all the wordy scientific gobbledygook? Just tell us if we're all gonna die. And when. 
The new virus should hit the United States in 2-3 weeks. Then Fox news might want to talk about it..
