Indonesia expects to be able to begin mass production of bird flu vaccines next year, said its Health Minister Endang Rahayu. State pharmaceutical company Bio Farma will start making the vaccine, which comes from the University of Indonesia, once its facilities are completed end 2012.
Bird flu has hit Indonesia harder than any other country, with 150 deaths reported between 2003 and 2011, according to the World Health Organisation. The country recently stepped up efforts against the disease. The Central Jakarta Agricultural and Animal Husbandry Agency in mid-January destroyed birds in several residential areas.
Don P Utoyo, Chairman of Indonesian Poultry Industry Forum, told Asian Agribiz that Jakarta's Regulation No 4/2007 states that birds are not allowed to be reared in residential areas in the central part of Jakarta.
