Tapping Local Knowledge in Indonesia to Battle Avian Influenza

According to this article, the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) is working with rural communities in Indonesia to combat the spread of bird flu. FAO has helped to train teams of local veterinarians and para-veterinarians in participatory disease surveillance and response (PDS/R) techniques, and surveillance and response teams are working in 168 out of the 444 districts in Indonesia. According to the article, 1,200 officers have been trained, and PDS/R capacity has been established in all districts of Java, and in the provinces of Bali, North Sumatra, and Lampung.

The trained veterinarians and para-veterinarians are tapping into local knowledge by involving community members in avian flu control efforts. Villagers are also trained to detect and report sick and dead poultry. According to the article, the success of PDS/R depends on strong links between people and animal health professionals and on the system's rapid response capabilities.

According to James McGrane, FAO Indonesia's Avian Influenza Team Leader, "[Indonesia] has taken a major step forward in promoting village disease surveillance and response. This could be a strategy that other affected countries might also want to consider. Working with local communities not only provides crucial data on how the disease is spreading but also mobilizes affected communities in Indonesia’s control efforts."