Wednesday, May 17, 2006
WHO confirms six bird flu cases in Indonesia
JAKARTA (Reuters) - The World Health Organisation confirmed six more human cases of bird flu infections in Indonesia on Wednesday, including five members of a family whose case has triggered fears of human-to-human transmission.
“There are six confirmations. One from Surabaya and five from Medan. One from Medan is still alive,” said Sari Setiogi, the WHO’s Indonesia spokeswoman.
Separately, Indonesia’s health ministry said a 12-year-old boy died of bird flu four days ago in Jakarta’s eastern suburb of Bekasi, according to local tests.
Blood samples have been sent to a WHO-affiliated laboratory in Hong Kong for confirmation, ministry spokeswoman Lily Sulistyowati said. Local tests are not considered definitive.
An outbreak of H5N1 bird flu involving about seven members of a family at Medan in North Sumatra province has worried health agencies around the world but a Health Ministry official said on Wednesday it was not a case of human-to-human transmission.
Source used in this Avian influenza article: