TEMPO Interactive, Indramayu: Thousands of dead ducks in Indramayu regency, West Java, tested positive for the bird flu virus. Head of Animal Health Inspector (PKH), Department of Agriculture and Livestock in Indramayu, Dian Daju, explained on Dec. 5 that a large number of ducks had died in the villages of Pagedangan and Cangko, in Indramayu district. "The number of ducks that died in the two villages was 1,100," she said. The cause of death was obtained after they did a rapid test. To be absolutely certain, the department sent samples of the dead ducks to the Veterinary Investigation and Testing Center in Subang. "The result was the same, bird flu positive," she said. Dian explained that the location had been disinfected and the ducks that were still alive had been given biosecurity and vitamins. "We asked the owners not to let the ducks out of their cages to prevent a more widespread transmission," said Dian. The ducks were not the only victims of the virus. Five chickens owned by Mustain, a villager at Kaplongan, Kedokanbunder district, also died and tested positive on Dec. 20. Based on data in Animal Clinic in the Indramayu regency, deaths of chicken-type poultry from bird flu have occurred in several areas in the Indramayu regency this year. Head of the Department of Agriculture and Livestock in the Indramayu regency, Nandang, explained that bird flu was indeed endemic in the regency. "But this is the first time the bird flu virus has attacked ducks, usually it only attacks chickens," he said. IVANSYAH