#12,705
The Indonesian press lit up this morning with multiple reports of suspected `Flu Burung', reportedly in a Bekasi bird shop owner who was placed into isolation at a hospital in Jakarta (see Jakarta Post Bekasi bird shop owner suspected of avian flu infection).
Almost immediately, however, there were reports that the patient had already tested negative for avian flu (presumably H5N1). This from Media Indonesia:
(translation)
Alleged cases of Avian Influenza occurred in Bekasi
Sunday, 20 August 2017 16:56 pm
(Excerpt)
Based on the data obtained, Sudiarti diagnosed by a private hospital on August 13, 2017 suffering from suspected bird flu. Based on the doctor's examination, Sudiarti experiencing shortness of August 7, two days later went to the hospital in Cibitung entrance to the ICU. Allegedly did not have enough charge, Sudiarti then return. Sudiarti suspected of having bird flu, because the sufferer direct contact with poultry, as selling poultry.
Head of Disease Prevention and Control at the Public Health Service Bekasi, Dezi Sukrawati, deliver, based on results of laboratory tests which he received on behalf of Sudiarti negative patients infected with bird flu. Current patients diagnosed with severe pneumonia, a disease that attacks the respiratory organs.
"It's out of his lab test results yesterday, Saturday (19/8), and negative patients infected with bird flu," said Dezi.
(Continue . . . )
After being the world's hot spot for H5N1 infections in the last half of the last decade, cases in Indonesia are now only rarely reported. Exactly what accounts for this drought in human infections isn't clear.
Given the lack of follow up to most of these media reports, we may never find out what the full story is, but we'll keep an eye on Indonesia in case more cases pop up.
