Indonesia is stepping up its surveillance for bird flu and is ordering that all birds be kept caged in cities, after new human fatalities occurred, reports Indonesia’s Trade and Investment News issued by the Coordinating Ministry for the Economy. 

now has recorded 75 human cases of H5N1 influenza, of which 55 have been fatal. Improved surveillance is leading to more suspect human cases being identified. 

The Ministry of Agriculture is stepping up intensive animal surveillance and rapid response activities aimed at controlling the virus in poultry.  As part of standard operation procedures, ministry of agriculture and regional husbandry or agriculture agencies have culled over 222,755 birds this year. 

As of September 30, the ministry has disbursed Rp2.419 billion to compensate owners for culled birds. Chicken owners are compensated with between Rp10,000 to Rp12,500 per chicken.