New suspected bird flu cases emerge in regions

The Jakarta Post, Bandung/Semarang/Bandar Lampung

Four people in Bandung, Semarang and Bandar Lampung have been hospitalized with suspected avian influenza after showing symptoms of the disease.

Chicken vendor Suprat, 58, was admitted to Dr. Kariadi Hospital in Semarang, Central Java, on Tuesday with a high fever, cough and respiratory problems.

The resident of Kendal regency had been treated at Roemani Hospital for a week, before being transferred to the government-designated hospital for bird flu patients.

Roemani Hospital head Sofa Chasani said tests have yet to confirm Suprat has bird flu.

A chicken seller, Suprat supplied 800 kilograms of chicken daily to markets in Semarang and Kendal.

Of the total 42 cases of human infection nationwide since July, there has been one case of human infection in Central Java. However, the virus killed around 8.17 million poultry in 2003 and 2004.

In Bandung, a 16-month-old baby named Kayla has been treated since Saturday in the isolation room of government-designated Hasan Sadikin General Hospital.

Her mother Titik Tri Herawati said Kayla had been taken to Santo Yusuf Hospital with a high fever, but was the hospital had referred her to Hasan Sadikin instead as she was showing bird flu symptoms.

Hasan Sadikin Hospital head Cissy B. Kartasasmita said an initial diagnosis of Kayla's condition indicated severe pneumonia, but her blood sample had been sent to the Ministry of Health in Jakarta for tests.

The Bandar Lampung man who is believed to have bird flu is a 20-year-old resident of Tanggamus regency named Hendriansyah. Three days after his admittance to Abdul Moeloek General Hospital in Bandar Lampung on Saturday, Hendriansyah's condition had regressed from a high fever to severe pneumonia.

Principally an avian disease, the H5N1 bird flu virus was first seen in humans in Hong Kong in 1997. Since then it has killed at least 65 people, with six fatalities in Indonesia.

The virus has spread to 22 provinces in the country, killing more than 9.5 million poultry.

The bird flu outbreak has sparked fears among residents in Bandarlampung, who saw dozens of chickens die sudden deaths over the weekend.

"Their deaths were unusual. The chickens had a high fever, and then, when they were slaughtered, there was almost no blood spilled," said Julfrizal, a resident of Pesawahan regency.

Lampung Health Office head Wirman said avian flu vaccine had been distributed to every district, while campaign activities to prevent further outbreaks had been stepped up.

However, Herdimansyah, chairman of non-governmental organization Lampung Sehat, was critical of the local administration's efforts to stop the virus from spreading.

"Until now, it's only Way Kanan regency that has financed an anti-bird flu operation, with a Rp 100 million (US$10,000) budget. The vaccine situation is not clear either," he said.