Indonesia sets bird flu deadline
Indonesia’s bird flu chief has said the country aims to eradicate the disease in humans by the end of 2007.
Bayu Krisnamurthi said the aim was to see an end to new human cases and a gradual improvement in animal outbreaks.
Indonesia is the country worst affected by H5N1, and 57 people have died of the virus so far.
It is an ambitious target for a country that has been seen for years as heading in the wrong direction.
But many observers believe Indonesia is beginning to see results in its battle against bird flu.
A new focus earlier this year on targeting the animal disease as the source of the problem has led to a better mapping of the virus and a reduction in reported animal cases.
Indonesia plans to expand its programs in 2007 to include better public awareness and contingency planning, and a comprehensive switch away from free range farming to minimise future outbreaks.
The expanded programs have been made possible by large increases in funding from both the Indonesian government and the international community.