Bengkulu Prepare Spread H5N1 Virus

Bengkulu (Antara Bali) - The Bengkulu City government on Sumatra Island has in place hundreds of officials to monitor for bird flu symptoms at 20 local clinics in the event of an outbreak of H5N1 virus, local health spokesman Karimel Sinambela said here on Saturday.

Sinambela added that these officials had been given intensive training on management of bird flu since 2011 to provide information regarding the dangers of bird flu and ways to manage the deadly disease.

"Here in Bengkulu, we have 74 clinics for suspected bird flu patients, which includes first aid services prior to being transferred to M Yunus general hospital," Sinambela said.

But he added that special funds for bird flu management had yet to be made available at the local health office, and therefore he asked local residents to remain on guard against the H5N1 virus, which has already spread to the villages of Kebunbeler, Pematanggubernur, Sawahlebar, Betungan, Bumiayu, Penurunan, Surabaya, and Sukarami.  

"We hope the people in those villages will remain vigilant at all times and immediately rush a patient with bird flu symptoms to a nearby clinic, before referring them to a general hospital," he said.(IGT)