- 6 Indonesian residents, including 4 children, have been
admitted to a hospital with avian influenza symptoms, spreading fears of
a major outbreak of the deadly disease in the world's fourth most populous
nation.
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- The 6 patients have been undergoing intensive treatment
at the Sulianti Saroso Hospital, which is a specialized hospital for infectious
diseases in North Jakarta, according to a local Detikcom online report
on Tue 20 Sep 2005. The latest patient is a 3 year old child who suffered
from high fever and respiratory problem. An employee with the Jakarta-based
Ragunan Zoo, where several wild fowl have been infected by avian influenza,
is also being treated at the hospital.
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- The government on Monday declared an "emergency
situation" caused by the avian influenza outbreak following the 4th
human fatality and the growing number of patients with avian influenza
symptoms. Under the emergency situation status, people who show avian influenza
symptoms can be forcibly hospitalized, with the government paying all financial
expenses, minister of health Fadilah Supari said.
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- The government has allocated the equivalent of 15.8 million
US dollars in an anti-bird flu program, but more funds will be needed,
the minister said. The Jakarta administration has temporarily closed the
Ragunan Zoo after the discovery of infected birds and ordered all of its
employees to undergo medical tests.
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- http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2005-09/20/content_3516427.htm
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- _____
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- ProMED-mail
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- As of today, only 2 of the presumptive cases of avian
influenza in Indonesia have been confirmed by laboratory testing as genuine
cases of avian influenza A (H5N1) virus infection. Of the 6 patients currently
in hospital in Jakarta with avian influenza symptoms, perhaps the zoo employee
is the most likely to be confirmed. In the present circumstances, the threat
by the government of forcible hospitalization of suspected bird flu cases
might seem to be an over-reaction; the most important measure is containment
of animal disease. Mod CP
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- Patricia A. Doyle, PhD
- Please visit my "Emerging Diseases" message
board at:
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- http://www.clickitnews.com/ubbthreads/postlist.php?
Cat=&Board=emergingdiseases
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- Zhan le Devlesa tai sastimasa
- Go with God and in Good Health
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