# 4964
We continue to get slightly conflicting reports on the five persons hospitalized in Indonesia with `suspected’ bird flu symptoms.
On Tuesday, at least one media report in the Tribun-Timur suggested their initial lab and radiological results were normal, while another – later – report stated that test results were pending and not expected until Friday.
This from Arkanoid Legent.
Indonesia : Bird Flu suspect waits for test results
Translated report from Metro Balikpapan :
" THOUGH the condition of vocational students who allegedly suspect bird flu continues to improve, City Health Office (DKK) and the Aberdeen Hospital Kanujoso Djatiwibowo (RSKD) has yet dared to give a recommendation to repatriate these patients.Until now, those students are still undergoing treatment at the isolation room Karamunting RSKD Balikpapan Head DKK drg Hj Dyah Muryani explained, it is still awaiting lab results from the certainty of Research and Development Center (Center) The Ministry of Health (Kemenkes) Center.
While we continue to watch the situation, with each passing day and no reports of serious illness, it seems less likely that any of these people will test positive for the virus.
Nonetheless, bird flu continues to spread in poultry across Sulawesi - claiming thousands of chickens - with new reports of poultry deaths now coming in from Bone and Barru Regencies.
Again, thanks to Arkanoid Legent, we’ve these two reports. Follow the links to read them in their entirety.
Indonesia : Bird Flu Spreads - Dozens of chickens died suddenly in Barru
Translated report from Fajar Lokal, excerpt :
Barru : Outbreaks of bird flu continued to spread. After being found in some areas, such as Pinrang and Sidrap, now bird flu is found in Mangkoso and Sumpang Binangae Barru. Even in Pinrang, chickens that died suddenly reported to have reached tens of thousands.
In two days, dozens of chickens in Mangkoso and Sumpang Binangae reported sudden death. Based on the results of Barru Animal Husbandry Department, chickens that died suddenly was positive bird flu.
Indonesia : Bird Flu Attack Bajoe
Translated report from Ujung Pandang Ekspres :
" BONE, Upeks : Dozens of chickens Village residents Bajoe Riattang Tanete Eastern District of Bone, died suddenly in the last three days. Dozens of dead chickens, the bird flu positive.
In most parts of the world, reports like these would be viewed with some alarm. They are all-too-common in Indonesia (and, to a somewhat lesser extent - in Egypt as well).
Exactly how often outbreaks like this occur in China, North Korea, and in some areas of Africa and Asia are largely unknown. Reporting and surveillance efforts in some countries are often less than robust.
Outbreaks of H5N1 occur primarily in birds, but sporadic widely scattered human cases are reported as well, particularly in Indonesia and Egypt.
Most (but not all) have been linked to close contact with infected poultry or birds.
While the virus has yet to adapt well enough to human hosts to transmit effectively between people, scientists remain concerned that the virus could mutate into a pandemic strain someday.
Which is why we continue to monitor outbreaks like the ones listed above.
