Mustaqim Adamrah, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta
The West Jakarta municipality has been inspecting poultry in Kalideres subdistrict since Thursday, following the death of a 24-year-old woman due to bird flu in the area a day earlier.
A representative from the West Jakarta Animal Husbandry and Fisheries Agency said the entire subdistrict would be scanned and warnings would be given to unlawful bird owners.
"We found more than 40 birds, chickens and ducks owned by 11 residents in the community unit where the bird flu victim lived. None of the animals were certified," said Moris Sihombing, the head of the agency's animal supervision division.
The H5N1 virus -- the deadliest bird flu strain for humans -- has so far hospitalized 115 people nationwide and killed 94, including 24 deaths in Jakarta alone.
Indonesia tops the list for the highest number of bird flu cases globally.
The deceased, identified only as DF, died in Cengkareng Hospital in West Jakarta two weeks after doctors positively diagnosed her with bird flu.
Samples taken from 55 people who had been in close contact with the victim are being examined at the Health Ministry's lab, with the results to be released within a week, city health agency spokeswoman Tini Suryati said Thursday.
However, on Wednesday the head of the West Jakarta health subagency, Dr. Ariani Murti, told reporters 50 people had been tested for bird flu, with the results all negative.
Tini said her agency was unaware of any friends or relatives of the victim who had displayed typical symptoms of bird flu, including a high fever or respiratory problems.
Both agencies are yet to find a dead or ill bird in the neighborhood of the victim.
In an effort to control the spread of avian influenza in Jakarta, the City Council passed an ordinance in April controlling the farming and distribution of poultry.
According to the ordinance, poultry farmers are required to have a Jakarta identity card, permission from neighborhood authorities, documents detailing the number of birds kept and the size and shape of their enclosure and a license from the City Animal Husbandry and Fisheries Agency. Poultry farms must also be located at least 25 meters from any residential area.
Poultry farmers and slaughterhouse owners with preexisting businesses have six months to fulfill the requirements or their businesses will be shut down and their birds seized.
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