The frequent negligence in handling dangerous diseases has not made our officials more alert. When the bird flu, or avian influenza, virus struck millions of birds in several regions at the end of last year, the eradication effort was less than total. Now, they are hastily drawing up a myriad of plans after the deadly virus spread and finally claimed human lives.

The sad news came from Tangerang, Banten. Iwan Siswara Rafei, 37, of Serpong,