Science News

Indonesian suspected of having avian flu

Published: Feb. 11, 2009 at 11:48 AM

JAKARTA, Feb. 11 (UPI) -- Authorities in Indonesia awaited the results of blood tests to determine if a resident of a village known for cockfighting has contracted avian flu.

The illness of Putu Pranayoga, 20, may signal the first human case of avian flu, commonly called bird flu, in Bali since a 29-year-old woman died of the disease in August of 2007, The Jakarta Post reported Wednesday.

The virus was first detected a week ago when a villager reported the nearly simultaneous death of 15 fowls that all ended up testing positive for avian flu.

"We have culled 133 fowls so far, including the 40 we aim to finish off today," said I Made Badra, head of the Badung Animal Husbandry and Fisheries Agency in Jagapati.

The Indonesian government has banned unlicensed live-animal transportation into Bali as well as cockfighting, but the sport remains a staple on the island.

© 2009 United Press International, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Any reproduction, republication, redistribution and/or modification of any UPI content is expressly prohibited without UPI's prior written consent.

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