# 1340
This from Antara news: a report that a 28-year-old woman from Tangerrang has died from what is suspected to have been bird flu. The first of two lab required lab tests have come back positive.
12/11/07 08:54
Indonesian plant seller suspected of bird flu death: ministry
Jakarta (ANTARA News) - An Indonesian woman who sold ornamental plants has died here with officials suspecting she may be the nation's 92nd bird flu death, an official from the agriculture ministry said Tuesday.
The 28-year-old woman, Mutiah, from the satellite city of Tangerang west of Jakarta, died at a hospital in the capital Monday after showing signs of the H5N1 virus, a doctor at the agriculture ministry's bird flu centre told AFP.
"The first test by the health ministry's laboratory confirmed that she was infected with H5N1, but we are still awaiting the results of the second test," said doctor Memed.
Two positive results of tests on blood and tissue samples from a victim are needed before Indonesian authorities confirm a bird flu infection here.
Indonesia is the nation that has been hardest hit by bird flu. Three bird flu deaths have occurred in Tangerang alone since October, including two children.
Memed said that it was still being determined whether the woman had been in contact with infected poultry or birds, the usual method of transmission of the virus to humans.
"Teams are currently deployed in her neighbourhood to determine the source of infection," Memed added.
Scientists fear that the virus may mutate into a form easily transmissible between humans, sparking a deadly global pandemic. (*)
