Indonesia says it has found more virulent bird flu strain
Purchase this article for republication
Buy SPH photos
Indonesia has identified the bird flu virus that killed hundreds of thousands of ducks in recent weeks as a more virulent type which is new to the country, according to a letter seen on Tuesday. -- PHOTO: RAHIM ESA
JAKARTA (AFP) - Indonesia has identified the bird flu virus that killed hundreds of thousands of ducks in recent weeks as a more virulent type which is new to the country, according to a letter seen on Tuesday.
"We found a highly pathogenic avian influenza sub-type H5N1 (virus) with clade 2.3..." the agriculture ministry's veterinary chief Syukur Iwantoro said in the letter.
"This clade is a new clade found for the first time in Indonesia, that is very different to the avian influenza found before, which is clade 2.1."
A clade is a group of organisms, usually species, with a common ancestor.
