Man dies of suspected bird flu

Man dies of suspected bird flu

JAKARTA: A 56-year-old man has died in hospital of suspected bird flu, which has claimed at least three lives in the country, an official said on Saturday.

"The man, Ramdani, died last night from severe pneumonia and kidney failure," said Ilham Patu, a spokesman for Jakarta's Sulianti Saroso Hospital.

The Jakarta resident showed symptoms of bird flu after being admitted to the hospital on Monday but the result of his first test was negative, Patu said.

Ramdani's death brings to six the number of people suspected of dying of the deadly H5N1 virus, but who are not officially listed as bird flu victims.

The government has confirmed three deaths from bird flu, based on local tests and confirmation from World Health Organization facilities in Hong Kong, since the first case of human infection was found in the country in June. -- AFP