# 672
Over the past few days we've seen a flurry of new reports out of Indonesia regarding suspected human cases. Complicating matters, the translation software newshounds use to read these articles had been offline for most of the weekend.
Relying on local news reports can be fraught with danger, as the reporting is inconsistent and the media tends to assign `suspect flu burung' to a great many patients. Hospitals, understandably, treat anyone with suspicious symptoms as if they are infected until they can confirm that fact with tests.
Often those tests turn out negative.
Of course, we also know that the tests are not particularly reliable, and the Indonesians require 3 negative tests before they assume a patient is free of the virus. Even then, it is possible they may miss a case occasionally.
Yesterday, the Jakarta Post reported a family of 5 in isolation suspected of H5N1 infection. Thus far, we've heard nothing new on those cases.
We've also seen reports of somewhere between 20 and 30 new `suspect' cases being treated over the past few days. Again, we don't know if any of these cases will prove to be due to the H5N1 virus.
The following news item details the death of one such suspected case, and gives us information on 7 additional cases in one hospital. A hat tip to Richard McC on Flutrackers for posting this translation.
Suspect Bird Flu died in Bandung
on Tuesday, 17/04/2007Bandung (SINDO) – After undergoing the maintenance for six days in Poinciana Tree Space of RSHS Bandung, Yanto, 48, suspect bird flu from the Cimahi City, yesterday died.
Suspect the 100 that was treated and isolated in this Poinciana Tree Space blew out the last breath around struck 12.50 WIB. in accordance with the standard of the handling of bird flu casualties, after being bathed, the resident's body Kp Coral of Anyar RT 06/09 Street Cigugur, Kel Cigugur Middle, Kec Cimahi Middle, the Cimahi City, this was wrapped special plastic was afterwards put into the coffin.
<snip>
The everyday man was professional as the stallholder (PKL) that left a wife and his two children, namely Maryani, 20, and Ina, 13.
As being reported beforehand, although not having the story of contact with the poultry that died suddenly, the Yanto condition has been very serious when entering Poinciana Tree Space RSHS. the Temperature of his body 37.5 Celsius levels, batukbatuk, and the great fever was accompanied breathless.
Yanto beforehand terindikasi suspect bird flu by the doctor in the Partner's clinic the Lasting Gift (the MALL) Leuwigajah, the Cimahi City.
The member the Team of the Control of RSHS Bird Flu Dr Yana Ahmad said, Yanto experienced the difficult complication.
”Komplikasi that was very heavy as failing the kidney, the lungs, and lainnya,” mentioned Yana.
The first inspection the sample of blood and apus the Yanto throat by the Body of the Department of the Health of Health Research And Development (Balitbangkes Department of Health) Jakarta, showed results of the negative.
<snip>
In the meantime, till yesterday, seven suspect bird flu that came from two families from Kp Malakeudeu, the Sukalaksa Village, Kec Sucinaraja, Kab Garut, was still undergoing the maintenance in Space of the Public Hospital Isolation (RSU) Dr Slamet Garut.
All of them were still being waiting for results of the sample inspection of blood.
There is obviously some doubt as to whether this patient had the H5N1 virus, although the symptoms are consistent with bird flu. The first blood test was negative, and additional testing will be done.
The religious and cultural bias against autopsies in Indonesia greatly limits their ability to accurately determine the cause of death. In other countries we've seen patients consistently test negative, only to find out in a post mortem examination that the patient did die of the disease.
I don't normally report on `suspected cases' simply because there are often a half dozen or more each day, and we rarely hear follow ups on their status.
Still, we should remain cognizant of the fact that the battle against bird flu continues in Indonesia, and just because reports aren't being carried in the major media, that doesn't mean that things are quiet.
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