Teenager cleared of bird flu dies

Teenager cleared of bird flu dies

JAKARTA: A teenager released from hospital earlier this month after being told she had not contracted the deadly bird flu virus has died, a medical official said on Thursday.

"The woman had tested negative and was declared not infected with avian flu and was accordingly released from hospital on Oct. 4," said Sardikin Giriputro, the deputy director of Jakarta's Sulianti Saroso hospital.

"She was readmitted yesterday (Wednesday) but died a few hours later," Sardikin said.

Wina Eka Dewi, 18, was still suffering from respiratory problems when she was released but the cause of her death was not immediately known, he said, adding that body samples had been taken for further tests.

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

Wina is one of a further five people to have died after they were suspected of having contracted the virus, but who are not officially listed as bird flu victims. -- AFP