Bali Prepares for Possible Bird Flu Outbreak

In an ominous and disturbing article in the Jakarta Post yesterday, it appears the Bali Health agency has geared up for a possible outbreak of Avian Influenza on the paradise tourist island.

Truly, I hope the dreaded virus never makes it to the island because the residents have suffered enough from recent events that virtually destroyed tourism to the island. I applaud the Bali health Agency in their diligent response to a serious matter that has yet to occur. Here’s the article from the Jakarta Post:

Bali authorities gearing up for bird flu outbreak
I Wayan Juniartha, The Jakarta Post, Denpasar

I Dewa Ketut Oka, the head of Bali Health Agency, is not the kind of government official who likes to talk in big words or meaningless jargon. Soft-spoken and unassuming, Oka keeps it simple.

Refusing to let himself be dragged into discussion of whether Avian Influenza (AI) was an imminent threat, Oka simply said that his men were up and ready to face an AI outbreak.

“The island’s hospitals have been prepared to treat a large number of AI patients. We have established a standardized system and protocol every hospital on the island must follow in dealing with AI,” he said.

The system designates the Sanglah Central Hospital in Denpasar as the primary treatment and medication facility for AI patients. Hospital spokesperson Putu Wisadha said that the Nusa Indah ward has been specifically prepared to treat AI patients.

Following the international medical protocol on infectious disease, any suspected AI patient will be transported directly to the AI ward upon arrival.

“They will bypass the usual process of being examined at the hospital’s triage and emergency unit first. The protocol aims at reducing contact, thus minimizing the risk of contagions passing between the suspected AI patients with the rest of the hospital’s patients,” he stressed.

Ken Wirasandhi of the hospital’s AI task force says the ward has five rooms, all of which are equipped with negative pressure ventilation systems to prevent the virus from escaping.

“Moreover, we have already received a supply of over 2,000 Tamiflu pills, the primary medication for AI. The supply is enough to treat at least 200 cases,” he said.

To assist Sanglah, two public hospitals in the neighboring regencies of Tabanan and Gianyar have been designated as the secondary treatment providers.

“Meanwhile, public hospitals in the rest of the regencies will assume the role of referral facilities, directing the flow of patients into Sanglah,” Oka said.

The Community Health Centers (Puskesmas) have been given the task of surveillance, monitoring their respective sub-districts for the first sign of an AI outbreak. Currently, the island has 111 fully-operational Puskesmas.

“The Bali Health Agency is responsible for equipping the health workers with the necessary tools and drugs, as well as providing the public with information and education about AI,” Oka said.

So far, the agency has distributed over 23,000 gloves and 5,600 masks to health workers across the island. The agency has also sent a supply of Tamiflu to every Puskesmas, public hospital and regency-level health agency in Bali.

Each Puskesmas has been allocated 200 pills, public hospitals sent 300 pills, and regency-level health agencies sent 1,000 pills.

“We still have a reserve supply of 5,000 pills available at the Bali Health Agency,” Oka said.

He also pointed out that the agency has conducted several surveys targeting high-risk human populations, including farm workers, poultry and pig traders, and pet bird dealers throughout Bali. In 2004 the survey collected 145 samples, 973 samples were collected in 2005 and 39 samples were taken in 2006. No AI infections were found.

“It doesn’t mean that we shouldn’t treat the AI threat very seriously. Presently, we are doing what we can to ensure that the island’s public health sector is well-prepared to deal with such a threat,” Oka stressed.