Sunday, June 18, 2006
50th human bird flu case confirmed in Indonesia
The Ministry of Health in Indonesia has confirmed the country’s 50th case of human infection with the H5N1 avian influenza virus.
The case, which was fatal, occurred in a 7-year-old girl from Tangerang district, Banten Province. She developed avian influenza like symptoms on 26 May, was hospitalized on 30 May, and died on 1 June. Her 10-year-old brother died of respiratory disease on 29 May, but no specimens were taken for testing and the cause of his death cannot be determined.
An investigation found a history of chicken deaths in the household and neighborhood prior to symptom onset. Laboratory testing of surviving family members and close contacts has been conducted and no further cases of the bird flu virus were found.
Of the 50 confirmed human avian influenza cases to date in Indonesia, 38 have been fatal.