Panicked residents crowd hospital<\/p>\n
Abdul Khalik, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta<\/p>\n
Despite an earlier call from the World Health Organization (WHO)
\nto remain calm, Jakarta residents who had visited Ragunan Zoo or
\nhad direct contact with chickens or other birds crowded the
\nSulianti Saroso Infectious Diseases Hospital in Sunter, North
\nJakarta, on Friday.<\/p>\n
The hospital has seen more than 100 people coming of their own
\nvolition for checks over the past few days. \"Most of them said
\nthey had been to Ragunan zoo,\" said the hospital's deputy
\ndirector, Sardikin Girisaputro.<\/p>\n
Around 30 frightened students from the Ksatria High School in
\nPercetakan Negara, Central Jakarta, for instance, rushed to the
\nhospital after several of their friends had fallen sick after a
\nschool tour to the zoo.<\/p>\n
Sardikin explained that the hospital's two observation rooms
\ncould only accommodate 22 patients at the most, while its ICU
\nfacilities could only accommodate three patients.<\/p>\n
\"So, we can't just receive any patients who feel that they
\nhave a fever or respiratory problem as we have limited capacity.\"<\/p>\n
The hospital, which receives patients referred by doctors as
\nwell as Jakarta Health Agency, has set a number of stages for
\ndealing with suspected bird flu patients.<\/p>\n
Those who get a fever or respiratory problem should go to the
\nnearest hospital or public health center for initial treatment.
\nIf there is no improvement in three days, they may be referred to
\nthe infectious diseases hospital.<\/p>\n
\"First of all we check their history of contact with high risk
\nareas and dead poultry. If they show clinical symptoms, we will
\nconduct laboratory tests and x-ray their chest,\" Sardikin
\nexplained.<\/p>\n
On Friday, of 18 patients suspected of having been infected
\nwith the bird flu virus and being treated in the infectious
\ndiseases unit of the hospital, 17 were improving, Sardikin said.<\/p>\n
\"One of the patients tested positive for typhoid, but we still
\nhave to wait for the laboratory tests on bird flu ... only one
\npatient is still in a worrying condition,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Two patients have been tested positive for the H5N1 strain of
\nthe bird flu virus.<\/p>\n
The hospital's director, Santoso Suroso, said that they
\nsuggested that a number of the patients, including one of the
\npatients who had tested positive for bird flu, go home as they
\nhad recovered completely.<\/p>\n
\"Several of them no longer have fevers while one of them even
\nasked us to let him go home as he felt completely better,\" he
\nsaid.<\/p>\n
A seven-year-old patient, who tested positive for bird flu,
\nwas also getting better and had been taken of a respirator. (003)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/panicked-residents-crowd-hospital-1447893297",
"image": ""
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