Monday, October 18, 2010

WHO Indonesia Bird Flu Update # 4

 

 

# 4990

 

 

In the wake of the release from the Indonesian Ministry of Health on Saturday (see Indonesian MOH Confirms 2 Bird Flu Fatalities) of details on two recent H5N1 fatalities, we’ve this update from the World Health Organization.

 

This report adds (somewhat tentative) links to poultry as the possible route of infection.

 

 

Avian influenza – situation in Indonesia - update 4

18 October 2010 -- The Ministry of Health of Indonesia has announced two new cases of human infection of H5N1 avian influenza.

 

A 35-year-old male from West Jakarta, Jakarta Province developed symptoms on 16 August, was hospitalized on 20 August and died on 27 August. Initial investigations into the source of his infection suggest a number of sudden chicken deaths occurred around the case’s house a week before onset.

 

The second case, a 40-year-old female from Kota Depok, West Java Province developed symptoms on 9 September, was hospitalized on 12 September and died on 17 September. Initial investigations into the source of her infection suggest exposure at a live bird market.

 

For both cases laboratory tests have confirmed infection with the H5N1 avian influenza virus.

 

Of the 170 cases confirmed to date in Indonesia, 141 have been fatal.