don't raise your hands, folks (see above)
Not out of the woods yet:
Indonesia's health minister called on people to be vigilant against bird flu in the upcoming rainy season, saying they could be especially susceptible to the disease during that time.
"We are asking people to be careful," Health Minister Siti Fadila Supari told reporters Friday, saying the number of bird flu cases could rise in November and December.
The H5N1 strain of bird flu has swept through poultry populations in many parts of Asia since 2003, jumping to humans and killing more than 60 people regionwide -- including three in Indonesia.
Dr. Steven Bjorge, a World Health Organization technical officer in Jakarta, said health experts know very little about the H5N1 virus in humans. But since the number of people who have human influenza peaks during the rainy season, it "seems prudent" to upgrade awareness of bird flu during those months as well, he said.
The U.N. health agency recommends adopting good hygiene practices and thoroughly cooking poultry products, including eggs.
Meanwhile, Agriculture Minister Anton Apriyantono said Friday Indonesia will evaluate stocks of bird flu vaccines used on poultry after discovering some made or distributed by local firms were below standard requirements. Apriyantono said legal action could be taken against three local companies. The ministry's spokesman said the matter had already been referred to the Attorney General's office. Local newspapers have reported the vaccines had low protection rates.
"The government has found vaccines made by local producers that were not in line with the world's animal health body," Apriyantono told reporters, referring to the Paris-based World Organization for Animal Health (OIE). "I've handed this over to law enforcement (agencies)."
He named the three firms as PT Medion Farma Nusantara, PT Bio Farma, and Pusvetma, a firm affiliated with the Agriculture Ministry.
A spokesman for state firm PT Bio Farma, Elvin Fajrul, said the company was unaware of the allegations. He added that Bio Farma did not make the vaccines, but distributed them.
Peter Yan, deputy director at vaccine producer PT Medion Farma Nusantara, said: "We guarantee the quality is in accordance with standards."
Pusvetma officials could not be reached for comment.
http://www.chinapost.com.tw/asiapacific/detail.asp?ID=70242&GRP=C