The Indonesian government launched Friday a national campaign against bird flu after more than two years of efforts to curb the disease, which has killed 47 people so far in the country.

"Bird flu will stay around us possibly for not a short period. We and other people must get prepared to deal with the disease," said Bayu Krisnamurthi, head of the national commission for bird flu eradication.

Bayu said bird flu outbreak has been confirmed in 29 out of 31 Indonesian provinces.

Women and children are the majority of bird flu human casualties, he said.