Indonesia prepares bird flu vaccine for 290 million chickens

Indonesia, which has more human deaths of bird flu than any other countries in the world, has secured 70 million dosages of vaccine that can be used to inject up to 290 million chickens, an official said on Wednesday.

"The stocks will be used to launch at least three vaccination drives," said Zoelkarnain Hasan, spokesman for the avian influenza affairs with the Agriculture Ministry.

He said one or two vaccinations in bird flu-hit areas were not enough to get rid of the disease among chickens and prevent the spread to humans.

"It even takes four vaccinations within four months to fully eliminate the virus," he said.

According to the ministry data, only two of all 33 provinces in the country have not reported bird flu case in humans.

Bird flu death toll in Indonesia has reached 78 since authorities confirmed the spread of the avian influenza among chickens in 2003.

Source: Xinhua