Indonesia steps up effort to prevent bird flu virus from spreading, by making a plan to conduct a stamping out in highly affected areas and strengthening coordination among authorities.

Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono instructed all governors from all provinces in a meeting with ministers at his office on Friday to take steps to avoid the spread of the lethal virus that has killed four people and possibly attacks on 28 others.

"Measures will be taken by the provincial governments to avoid the spread of the virus," he told a press briefing after the meeting.

"The government has taken a decision to conduct stamping out in heavily (affected areas)."

He said that the government would give financial assistance to breeders whose poultry were slaughtered.

Regarding to the reaction of foreign countries to Indonesia in handling the case, President Susilo asked the countries to understand on the steps being taken by Indonesian government and not to give an exaggerated version in seeing the outbreak in the country.

"The moves of birds are across countries. I hope the world also know that Indonesia is taking serious measures in handling this join problem," he said.

Meanwhile, Indonesian Vice President Jusuf Kalla reminded that the outbreak could be dangerous threat in the future if it is not be controlled immediately, because the outbreak newly occurred in the world.

Indonesian Health Minister Siti Sufari Fadilah said that Indonesia already had 10,000 tablet of Tamiflu, the only treatment so far proven effective against bird flu in humans, after recommended by the World Health Organization.

Source: Xinhua