Indonesia waits on possible 10th bird flu infection
Indonesia waits on possible 10th bird flu infection
Agence France-Presse, Jakarta
Health authorities on Sunday awaited test results taken on an ill
nurse they fear may be suffering from bird flu, a day after the
country confirmed its fifth fatality from the deadly H5N1 virus.
Health authorities confirmed on Saturday two more bird flu
cases in Indonesia, including a 19-year-old woman Ina Solati, who
died on Oct. 28 at a hospital in Tanggerang, 30 kilometers west
of the capital.
The woman who nursed her was admitted to Sulianti Saroso
hospital in Jakarta Thursday showing symptoms of H5N1, the virus
scientists fear may mutate by acquiring genes from the human
influenza and lead to a global pandemic.
"Samples from the nurse were taken yesterday (Saturday) and
have been sent to the health ministry's research and development
department for testing," hospital head Sardiman Giriputro told
AFP.
Three other Indonesians have been confirmed as infected with
avian influenza but have recovered or are still being treated.
The virus, which has killed more than 60 people in Asia since
2003, has now spread to birds in Europe.
Sardiman could not say whether samples from the nurse had also
been sent to the testing facilities of the World Health
Organization (WHO) in Hong Kong.
He said that the health of three young children, a daughter
and two nephews of Ina Solati who were also admitted to hospital
showing bird flu symptoms and were being tested for it, had
improved.
A hospital spokesman said Saturday that it appeared the three,
who were believed to have come into close contact with chickens
and doves kept in their backyard, were not infected with H5N1.
Bird flu is a threat to humans who come into close proximity
with infected birds, notably by breathing virus-laden nasal
secretions or dried, pulverized feces.
So far there is no proof of human-to-human transmission
although many scientists believe there may have been cases of
limited transmission between humans.
The announcement of the latest death comes ahead of the
biggest international meeting on the bird flu crisis yet, which
opens Monday in Geneva.