News - The Jakarta Post - SBY tells officials not to cover up bird flu cases

President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono has warned local administrations against presenting him with fabricated "good news" on bird flu as foreign and national media have continued running factual reports on the spread of the lethal disease in the country.

He also said on Monday the government was to launch a bird flu monitoring system, called "Village Preparedness", which would involve millions of people at village level.

Under the scheme, at least five personnel, including doctors, would monitor bird flu cases among both birds and humans in every village in order to speed up the reporting of any outbreak, Susilo added.

The President said several regional executive heads had failed to take measures to eradicate bird flu seriously, despite instruction from the central government.

"I have asked them to implement what we've instructed. I'd rather get honest and objective reports on bird flu cases in the regions than cover-ups for the sake of a good image," he told a news conference after a meeting with Minister of Health Siti Fadilah Supari and Minister of Agriculture Anton Apriyantono.

Susilo said covering up bird flu outbreaks to please him would only result in the situation worsening and more people falling victim to the virus.

The Jakarta Post - SBY tells officials not to cover up bird flu cases