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Indonesian bird flu death
03/12/2005 13:08 - (SA)
Jakarta - World Health Organisation (WHO) tests have confirmed that a 25-year-old Indonesian woman, who died four days ago, was the country's eighth bird flu victim.
On Saturyday, WHO official Hariadi Wibisono, said "we've received the results" from the WHO testing laboratory in Hong Kong, and they were positive.
The victim, Sri Wahyuni, tested positive in initial local tests for the deadly H5N1 avian influenza strain, which has killed at least seven other Indonesians and infected five others.
Wahyuni, a housewife, was admitted to Sulianto Saroso hospital, Indonesia's main facility for treating bird flu patients on November 24 after being treated at a hospital on the outskirts of the capital.
Hospital spokesperson, Ilham Patu, said that six more hospital patients were currently undergoing initial testing.
"They are suspected cases," said Patu.
Struggling to keep track
Indonesia has been testing suspected cases locally before sending any positive results to Hong Kong for verification.
More than a dozen more bird flu deaths are suspected to have occurred in Indonesia, the world's fourth most populous country, where an overstretched health system is battling to respond to outbreaks.
Animal health experts are also struggling to keep track of numerous clusters of bird infections and deaths.
The H5N1 strain of the bird flu virus has killed about 70 people in Asia since 2003.
Scientists warn that continued contact between infected birds and humans may eventually result in the virus mutating into a form that could be easily passed on by humans, sparking a pandemic that could kill millions.
Indonesia - accused of covering up initial outbreaks of bird flu - has pledged a year-long fight against the virus, including house-to-house checks and culls.
- AFP
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