Indonesia waits on possible 10th bird flu infection<\/p>\n
Agence France-Presse, Jakarta<\/p>\n
Health authorities on Sunday awaited test results taken on an ill
\nnurse they fear may be suffering from bird flu, a day after the
\ncountry confirmed its fifth fatality from the deadly H5N1 virus.<\/p>\n
Health authorities confirmed on Saturday two more bird flu
\ncases in Indonesia, including a 19-year-old woman Ina Solati, who
\ndied on Oct. 28 at a hospital in Tanggerang, 30 kilometers west
\nof the capital.<\/p>\n
The woman who nursed her was admitted to Sulianti Saroso
\nhospital in Jakarta Thursday showing symptoms of H5N1, the virus
\nscientists fear may mutate by acquiring genes from the human
\ninfluenza and lead to a global pandemic.<\/p>\n
"Samples from the nurse were taken yesterday (Saturday) and
\nhave been sent to the health ministry's research and development
\ndepartment for testing," hospital head Sardiman Giriputro told
\nAFP.<\/p>\n
Three other Indonesians have been confirmed as infected with
\navian influenza but have recovered or are still being treated.<\/p>\n
The virus, which has killed more than 60 people in Asia since
\n2003, has now spread to birds in Europe.<\/p>\n
Sardiman could not say whether samples from the nurse had also
\nbeen sent to the testing facilities of the World Health
\nOrganization (WHO) in Hong Kong.<\/p>\n
He said that the health of three young children, a daughter
\nand two nephews of Ina Solati who were also admitted to hospital
\nshowing bird flu symptoms and were being tested for it, had
\nimproved.<\/p>\n
A hospital spokesman said Saturday that it appeared the three,
\nwho were believed to have come into close contact with chickens
\nand doves kept in their backyard, were not infected with H5N1.<\/p>\n
Bird flu is a threat to humans who come into close proximity
\nwith infected birds, notably by breathing virus-laden nasal
\nsecretions or dried, pulverized feces.<\/p>\n
So far there is no proof of human-to-human transmission
\nalthough many scientists believe there may have been cases of
\nlimited transmission between humans.<\/p>\n
The announcement of the latest death comes ahead of the
\nbiggest international meeting on the bird flu crisis yet, which
\nopens Monday in Geneva.<\/p>",
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