New suspected bird flu cases emerge in regions
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.