Govt moves to stop ostracism of relatives of bird flu victims

The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

A woman living in Petukangan, South Jakarta, has had restless nights since the media started continuously airing updates on the condition of a boy from her neighborhood who contracted bird flu.

Her immediate reaction was to take her children out of school and get them away from the area for a few days. Other mothers in her housing complex did the same.

"We still have no idea how the virus spreads. What we did might seem extreme and probably gave the boy's family a hard time, but isn't it better to be safe than sorry?" said one woman, who lived in front of the boy's family home.

Minister of Health Siti Fadilah Supari visited the boy's home on Wednesday after news about the ostracism of his family began appearing in the media.

Siti informed the boy's neighbors about his current condition. "You should not worry anymore. The boy has recovered," she said.

Previously, the neighbors had no idea what was really going on with the nine-year-old boy after he was taken to the Sulianti Saroso Hospital following the death of his aunt from bird flu. No officials came to the neighborhood to explain his condition or what precautionary measures should be taken.

"We did not panic. But, because of the uncertainty of the situation, we did what we felt was needed," said one door. She explained that she had been confused. "While the media said he had tested positive for bird flu, his mother said that he was healthy."

The neighborhood is a well-kept complex with middle class residents who are generally better informed than the people in Jakarta's kampongs. Nevertheless, the fear sparked by the H5N1 virus was contagious.

After the nine-year-old boy was released from the hospital on Monday and declared healthy, the neighbors appeared to calm down.

"I deplore the fact that no official explanations on the case were given in our area until the health minister visited his house today. Our community unit head had to produce his own leaflets explaining about the disease," said the woman. "The least the ministry could have done is try to calm us when the rumors were flying."

She explained that even the members of her own family had received suspicious looks from friends and relatives. "They were half-joking when they asked whether we lived near the boy's house. But, I could sense that they were worried."

Two women whose children attended the same school as the boy admitted that they had also been worried. "Last Saturday, officials came to the school and explained all about the disease. We are no longer worried," she said.

Following the discharge of the boy and three other patients from the hospital, as of Wednesday there were 12 suspected bird flu patients still under observation, while ten previously suspected bird flu patients have been declared free of the disease.

Indonesia saw its first bird flu fatalities in July and has reported a total of six fatalities to date. Four other people, including the nine-year old boy, also tested positive for bird flu. feel free to cut

According to the World Health Organization, avian influenza is an infectious disease of birds caused by type-A strains of the influenza virus. The airborne virus also spreads through droplets of feces and saliva. People and poultry can be infected if the virus enters through the nose and mouth.

Therefore, the WHO advises appropriate precautions -- wearing gloves and masks -- for poultry workers and those carrying out culls as the virus can survive for around seven days in poultry remains.

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