Residents worry over reports of bird flu<\/p>\n
Abdul Khalik, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta<\/p>\n
Fears of contracting bird flu prompted residents of Petukangan
\nUtara neighborhood in South Jakarta to rush to a temporary health
\ncenter on Monday to have a blood sample taken.<\/p>\n
Men, women, old and young alike fell in line to wait their
\nturn to have their blood taken by officials from the Ministry of
\nHealth and the Jakarta Health Agency.<\/p>\n
\"I met with the woman who died several times so I must have my
\nblood tested. I am afraid that the virus has infected me too. And
\njust as a precautionary measure, I have asked my daughter to have
\nher blood tested too,\" Aisyah, one of the residents, told The
\nJakarta Post after her blood sample was taken.<\/p>\n
A 37-year old woman living in the neighborhood died at 8:55
\np.m. on Saturday in Bintaro International Hospital after being
\ntreated since Sept. 6.<\/p>\n
According to the hospital, which was later confirmed by the
\nMinistry of Health, the woman died of avian influenza, commonly
\nknown as bird flu.<\/p>\n
Minister of Health Siti Fadilah Supari said that a sample of
\nthe woman's blood had been sent to a laboratory in Hong Kong to
\nascertain whether or not she died because of bird flu.<\/p>\n
Head of the disease evaluation section at the Ministry of
\nHealth Tato Suharto said that his office and the Jakarta Health
\nAgency took blood samples of all the people who came in contact
\nwith the dead woman.<\/p>\n
\"We require residents to come to have their blood taken if
\nthey think they had come in contact with the woman. We have to
\ntake blood samples from over 30 people today. We will also make
\nresidents aware of the virus,\" he told the Post.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, a resident identified as Rustini, 29, said that her
\ntwo-month-old baby died eight days ago because of lung problems.<\/p>\n
\"His name was Livo. He had a cough and respiratory problems. A
\nspecialist said that he had pneumonia,\" Rustini, who stays in the
\nupper story of a slaughter house told the Post just before her
\nblood was taken.<\/p>\n
Tato said his officials would examine Rustini, her husband
\nBadru and their children to decide whether the baby died because
\nof bird flu or not.<\/p>\n
\"The symptoms are similar to those found in people suffering
\nfrom bird flu. However, we can't draw any conclusion yet because
\na further laboratory test is needed,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Tato said that officials from the Ministry of Agriculture and
\nJakarta Animal Husbandry Agency had also come to check the
\nchickens and the condition of animals in the neighborhood.<\/p>\n
A chicken slaughter house owned by Yusuf is located around 100
\nmeters away from the dead woman's house, while a small slaughter
\nhouse belonged to Sarmidi is also located nearby.<\/p>\n
Jakarta Animal Husbandry Agency head Adnan Ahmad said they had
\ntaken samples of chicken from seven small chicken farms in the
\nneighborhood.<\/p>\n
He, however, said that they would not be closed down as it was
\ntoo early to say whether or not the chickens were infected by
\navian influenza.<\/p>\n
\"We don't know if the virus came from the chickens as we must
\nwait for the test result,\" Adnan said.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/residents-worry-over-reports-of-bird-flu-1447893297",
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