# 4940
While the medical status of the 8 Indonesians reporting flu-like symptoms after contact with sick and dying chickens (see Watching Indonesia Again) remains unclear, we continue to see a steady stream of media reports from the region.
We are also seeing reports of outbreaks of bird flu (or at least, suspected bird flu) elsewhere across Indonesia - I’ve included a couple of these reports at the end of this blog.
Ida at the Bird Flu Information Corner - a joint project of Kobe University in Japan and the Institute of Tropical Disease, Airlangga University, Indonesia – has translations of 3 short news stories overnight.
For now, public health officials have not declared these 8 people as being officially suspected of having H5N1.
Follow the links to read these stories in their entirety.
Luwu Utara, South Sulawesi ::: Bird flu attacks chickens
Posted by Ida on September 27, 2010
Luwu Utara – Livestock Service of Kabupaten (municipal) Luwu Utara, South Sulawesi, culled thousands of chickens belong to local farmers. Those birds were infected by bird flu H5N1.
Ponorogo, East Java ::: Chickens die of bird flu
Posted by Ida on September 27, 2010
Ponorogo – Dozens of chicken in Kertosari, Ponorogo suddenly died. The chickens were apparently healthy and found dead on the next day.
Laboratory test of Health Service showed those chickens were positive bird flu H5N1.
Eight locals develop illness after bird flu outbreak in Pinrang. Officials ban chickens from South Sulawesi.
Posted by Ida on September 27, 2010
Follow up of Pinrang bird flu outbreak.
Eight locals showed symptoms but officials have not announced them as bird flu suspect. Meanwhile, bird flu infected chickens from South Sulawesi caught and diminished by quarantine officers in Ambon. -adm-
Historically human H5N1 cases in Indonesia have fared extremely poorly (an > 80% fatality rate). Unless something about the virus has changed, the lack of reported serious illness (so far, anyway) in this group is somewhat reassuring.
Meanwhile, on FluTrackers, the newshounds have been busy overnight. Treyfish has retrieved and translated several stories, including this one on the containment efforts in Pinrang (available on this FluTrackers Thread).
Pinrang KLB Flu Burung
MONDAY, 27 SEPTEMBER 2010 | 11:15 pm | 208 HitsShare |
Pinrang outbreaks of Avian Influenza
Nasri Aboe / DAWN spray. Officers spraying drug to chickens suspected of bird flu in the Hamlet District Paladang Lanrisang, Pinrang, Saturday lalu.
PINRANG - The discovery of thousands of chickens died suddenly, now Pinrang entry status of outbreaks (epidemics) avian influenza (AI) or bird flu . Control of chicken continues to be improved.
<SNIP>
Head of Department (Head) Pinrang Health, Dr. Rusman also admitted to having a team monitoring the impact of bird flu on chicken. Monitoring continues. "We remain alert to the possibility of people stricken with bird flu," he said
Note: KLB refers to an `Extraordinary Incident’ and Flu Burung is Indonesian for Bird flu.
Again from Treyfish, we get this a `damage control’ statement by a local politician, seeking to reassure residents that eating properly cooked chicken (an important industry in that region) is safe.
Sahabuddin Thoaha: Virus AI Do not be exaggerated
MONDAY, 27 SEPTEMBER 2010
PINRANG - The bird flu virus or Avian Influenza (AI) is now suspected outbreak in some areas has remained a fearsome specter in the midst of society. However, members of parliament Pinrang, Sahabuddin Thoaha requested that suspected cases of AI outbreaks do not need to be exaggerated.The reason, until now, there are no data that prove that bird flu is a major cause of human death. Sahabuddin who met in his office, at the Parliament building Pinrang, Friday, September 24 and then say, so far, I have found no accurate data on human deaths due to Avian Influenza (AI).
There was, he said only suspeck (allegedly) only. "I dare to eat the chicken, which is important is cooked above 100 degrees Celsius, because the virus that range," he said.
(Continue . . . ) – Translated link
Dutchy meanwhile has picked up on another suspicious outbreak of poultry deaths in Kalimantan, with this report:
Today, Team Down To Perform Rapid Test
BALIKPAPAN - The Department of Agriculture, Marine Affairs and Fisheries (DPKP) not remain silent municipal government report found the number of chickens that died suddenly in the area of RT 04 Kelurahan Manggar, Balikpapan East.
The plan, on Monday (27 / 9) today, Case Response team will go to the field to take samples of dead chickens and conduct rapid test.
And from the Flu Wiki’s Indonesian Poultry & Wild Birds thread, we get this report of the return of bird flu to Ponorogo by bgw in MT.
Bird Flu Virus Appears in Ponorogo Back
Sunday, September 26, 2010 11:35:20 AM
Reporter: Raden Chess CahyoPonorogo (beritajatim.com) - After several months of no more rumors about the outbreak of H2N1 virus (bird flu, red) is now the deadly virus reappeared in Ponorogo. At least dozens of chickens owned by residents Kertosari, district of the City died mysteriously.
(Continue . . . ) – Translated link
A lot of activity, a bit unusual for this time of year.
The newshounds on the Flu forums (see Newshounds: They Cover The Pandemic Front) will keep this under close watch, and you can be sure that Crof, Arkanoid Legent, BFIC, Chen Qi and I will, as well.
