On the frontlines of avian influenza: Strengthening One Health surveillance in Surakarta

23 July 2025

From May to August 2025, Indonesia is piloting a One Health surveillance initiative across five provinces to strengthen early detection and rapid response to avian influenza.

In Surakarta, Central Java – where birds move daily across regional boundaries – a joint surveillance activity from 19 to 23 May highlighted the importance of traditional poultry markets as critical early warning sites.

Led by the Ministry of Health and supported by animal, environmental and human health partners, including the World Health Organization, the activity focused on areas at high risk of avian influenza.  

By collecting samples from people, poultry and the surrounding environment, the pilot is helping to build an integrated surveillance system and lay the foundation for early detection and rapid response through a One Health approach. 

Photos and words by Resty Armis, National Professional Officer (Avian Influenza EID), WHO Indonesia 

WHO/Resty Armis
As part of the human surveillance effort, Rafiq Mardiyanto, a nurse from Sangkrah primary health centre (puskesmas), collects a blood sample from a chicken vendor at Semanggi Poultry Market.

Human surveillance effort

As part of the human surveillance effort, Rafiq Mardiyanto, a nurse from Sangkrah primary health centre (puskesmas), collects a blood sample from a chicken vendor at Semanggi Poultry Market. 

WHO/Resty Armis
Semanggi Poultry Market is one of Surakarta’s main live poultry trading hubs, where close human–poultry contact and poor sanitation heighten the risk of avian influenza transmission.

Surakarta's live poultry trading hub

Semanggi Poultry Market is one of Surakarta’s main live poultry trading hubs, where close human–poultry contact and poor sanitation heighten the risk of avian influenza transmission. 

Routine check

Staff from Puskesmas Sangkrah collect blood samples from people with frequent poultry exposure – sellers, slaughterers, collectors and cleaners – to test for antibodies and virological markers of avian influenza.  

WHO/Resty Armis
Applying the One Health approach, surveillance teams collect data and assess transmission risk of avian influenza across humans, animals and the environment.

High-risk conditions

Traditional markets like Semanggi Poultry Market – where poultry is sold and slaughtered on-site – can create high-risk conditions for zoonotic diseases to spread. Applying the One Health approach, surveillance teams collect data and assess transmission risk of avian influenza across humans, animals and the environment. 

WHO/Resty Armis
During the surveillance activity, veterinary health officers collect swab samples from chickens to test for avian influenza.

Swab samples

During the surveillance activity, veterinary health officers collect swab samples from chickens to test for avian influenza. 

WHO/Resty Armis
Teams collect swabs from various poultry types – including broilers, layer hens, native chickens and ducks – to better understand how the virus spreads among species commonly sold in traditional markets.

Poultry varieties

Teams collect swabs from various poultry types – including broilers, layer hens, native chickens and ducks – to better understand how the virus spreads among species commonly sold in traditional markets. 

WHO/Resty Armis
Novi Sulistyaningrum from the Environmental Health Laboratory Center in Salatiga interviews a poultry vendor, while her colleague Arif Nugroho collects surface swabs to assess contamination risks in high-contact areas of the market.

Environmental health

Novi Sulistyaningrum from the Environmental Health Laboratory Center in Salatiga interviews a poultry vendor, while her colleague Arif Nugroho collects surface swabs to assess contamination risks in high-contact areas of the market. 

WHO/Resty Armis
During the surveillance, teams collect samples from people, animals and the environment – each a vital data point for early detection of avian influenza.

Vital data point

During the surveillance, teams collect samples from people, animals and the environment – each a vital data point for early detection of avian influenza. The results will guide local response, inform policy and strengthen Indonesia’s contribution to pandemic preparedness. 

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