Hundreds of ducks in Kerinci regency, Jambi, have been infected by the duck flu virus, which is a strain of avian flu, or the H5N1 virus, according to the local animal husbandry agency.

Kerinci Fisheries and Husbandry Agency animal health division head Aryan said duck flu in Kerinci had been present for the past month.

It had initially hit Sungai Mendang village and then Belui Tinggi, followed by Semurup two weeks ago and Koto Majidin.

Based on examinations conducted by officers in Semurup, the ducks had been infected by the virus. The duck flu samples have been sent to the Veterinary Analysis and Investigation Center (BPPV) in Bukittinggi, West Sumatra, for verification.

Aryan said on Thursday that his office had conducted field tests on ducks in Koto Majidin but the ducks tested negative for the virus.

His office had taken samples from the ducks in Koto Majidin to be analyzed at the BPPV lab in Bukittinggi.

'The duck flu virus has yet to infect humans, so people need not panic but must remain alert,' he said.