The Indonesian government is allocating 40 billion rupiah (about US$3.7 million) to cope with the possible spread of swine flu in Indonesia, Director General for Animal Husbandry Tjeppy D Soedjana was quoted by the national Antara news agency on Tuesday.

"The funds are taken from the bird flu handling budget made sometime in the past," the director general said, adding that the funds were now being kept by the office of the people's welfare coordinating ministry.

He said that the funds would be used to carry out activities such as those carried out to overcome the spread of bird flu in the country such as surveillance activities.

"We carry out activities like those done in handling bird flu cases. If the funds are not enough, additional funds can be made," he added.

He also said that other efforts made included banning imports of pigs from swine-affected countries. According to him, Indonesia's annual pig import is estimated to reach 100 to 3,000 tons, which was recorded at 2,600 tons in 2008.