During the end of 2003 in December until today, outbreaks of the avian influenza virus have been reported in the poultry population in the South-East Asian Region and in parts of Europe. Within Asia, outbreaks of the virus have been reported in countries such as; Cambodia, China, Indonesia, Japan, the Republic of Korea, the Lao People's Democratic Republic, Malaysia and Vietnam. The strain identified as the H5N1, classified as a highly pathogenic virus, has led to massive die-offs in birds, chickens and duck populations.
Human cases of avian influenza H5N1 have been detected around the world. The majority of the human cases are a result of direct contact of humans with infected poultry or contaminated environments. There are a few instances where limited human-to-human transmission of the virus could not be ruled out. Despite this, there have not been large clusters of human cases indicating that the virus is not yet adapted for human-to-human transmission. With the alarming development of the virus and the pandemic potential that it poses, the World Health Organization (WHO) is working hand-in-hand with the Indonesian Government to respond to the outbreak. Activities include enhanced surveillance, outbreak management and hospital preparedness.
WHO is also working at the regional level and at global level to strengthen the response to avian influenza H5N1 and pandemic preparedness. Up-to-date information about the outbreak and practical guidelines can be accessed from these websites.