Indonesia Targets $100 Million For Bird Flu

From correspondents in Jakarta. Indonesia Targets $100 Million For Bird Flu. September 1, 2006. Internet Explorer. http://www.news.com.au/story/0,10117,20331415-401,00.html?from=rss





The bird flu is spreading all across Indonesia, having reported killing 46 Indonesians in the past year. The country plans to secure $100 million in order to fight the bird flu and prevent it as well. However, with Indonesia's lack of money and ignorance of the bird flu, the World Band has even called the government in the situation to help control the epidemic. There is also fear that the virus will only get worse during Indonesia's rainy season, which starts in October. Bayu Krisnamurthi remarks, "Like in any other tropical country, influenza symptoms usually increase during the rainy season in Indonesia." Thus, the World Bank recommends for Indonesia to raise the budget for controlling the virus. The bird flu program will not only fight and control the H5N1 virus, but it will educate Indonesians about the virus as well. It will be a big challenge, however, since Indonesia has several hundreds of local languages, many religions, and thousands of islands.

It might seem like an ignorant perspective of mine, but I might be underestimating the amount of money Indonesia can raise for the H5N1 virus. However, the country does have over 200 million people living in it, so I can understand how possible it is for Indonesia to raise the money for their budget. Since they are raising money for the bird flu program, I have an interest in what precautions the government is giving to Indonesians, as well as the rest of the world. The article makes it evident that the H5N1 virus is transmitted from animals to animals. Given this information, the people who have died from this disease have probably eaten, or have been in close contact with, the animal which had the virus. If this had happened, how is the disease not transmitted from animals to humans? In conclusion, I really don't believe the correspondents in Jakarta provided many details for this article, as it leaves me questioning more about the disease. Moreover, I believe that it is definitely possible for Indonesia to raise the money for their budget to control the H5N1 virus.