# 4334
From the `If you don’t believe it, just ask us’ Department, we get optimistic assurances today from the Indonesian government that they’ve got their bird flu problem under control.
According to their Ministry of Health, the situation is `relatively stable and approaching a normal state’.
The translation below comes from Ida a the Bird Flu Information Corner – a a joint effort between Kobe University in Japan and the Institute of Tropical Disease, Airlangga University, Indonesia. The original source is the Indonesian newspaper Okezone
The claim that the mortality rate of H5N1 has dropped is curious since the only report issued by the Indonesian MOH in the past 12 months (Dec 30th) indicated they’d seen 20 H5N1 infections with 19 deaths.
That’s a 95% fatality rate for 2009.
If they are strictly going by the total number of deaths, then yes, they are reporting a decline. 2009 saw one less fatality than 2008, but about half the number of the deaths seen in 2007.
How much of that is due to effective control of the virus, and how much can be attributed to deficits in surveillance and reporting is difficult to assess. Indonesia hasn’t been exactly forthcoming with data on their H5N1 problem over the past 3 years.
Some of the numbers in the report below are a bit suspect, as well. The statement that they’ve seen 150 cases with `over 100’ deaths is a simplification, at best.
The WHO lists 161 cases with 134 deaths. Making a greater than 83% fatality rate.
In any event, here is the translated report.
Indonesia ::: Govt says bird flu has been cleared
February 9, 2010Jakarta – Indonesia has successfully controlled bird flu H5N1. This is proved by the declining of death rate caused by this deadly virus during 2009 to the beginning of 2010.
World Health Organization (WHO) previously recorded Indonesia at the top list of H5N1 human infection. Until 2009, 134 of 161 total cases had died of H5N1 in Indonesia
For novel H1N1 2009 flu, total 1,097 cases reported in Indonesia with 10 deaths.
According to dr Iwan M Muljono of Ministry of Health, bird flu case in Indonesia was relatively stable and approaching normal state.
“Bird flu case has been cleared but Ministry of Health will continue public socialization to prevent any possible re-emerge,” said Iwan in a seminar with title Preparing Indonesia for Influenza Pandemic, held at Hotel Le Meridien, Jalan Jendral Sudirman, South Jakarta, on Tuesday (9/2).
Meanwhile, Director of Basic Medical Care Ministry of Health, Marwan Nuftri said number of fatality caused by H5N1 until 2010 had reached 80 percent.
“Over 150 cases have been reported with death over 100 people. But death rate has declined because we attempted control such as socialization, strengthen of health practitioner and public health center,” said Marwan.
Marwan also mentioned pandemic issue was a crucial international situation and strict control of communication and transportation which might become the source of infection, was needed.
“It means any source of infection should be considerably monitored. Indonesia has large population and high death rate is found in particular in West Java and North Sumatera,” added Marwan.
