# 1795
Yesterday the Lampung Post reported that two of the 10 people from a Lampung village, currently in isolation, tested positive for the H5N1 bird flu virus. Today, the Jakarta Post is reporting that these two remain `suspect cases', and that test results haven't arrived.
What gives?
Well, two possibilities come to mind. First, that the Lampung Post got it wrong, which is certainly possible. They were rather specific, however, when they wrote:
Kesehatan Banda Lampung Section Head Dr. Reihana named results of the VCR inspection (the test of the throat liquid) that was carried out by the Team of Avian Influenza Rumah Sakit Abdul Moeloek stated two from 10 residents Way Laga positive was infected by the bird flu virus.
VCR inspection is almost certainly PCR testing. It is common for to see P's an V's transposed in translations.
The second possibility is that, since the government requires TWO positive tests before confirming anyone as being infected, they are still awaiting a second round of testing.
In any event, the Jakarta Post this morning has these two patients still in the `suspected' category. We'll need to wait for further clarification from Depkes, the Ministry of Health.
Two more bird flu suspects detected in Lampung
Oyos Saroso H.N. , The Jakarta Post , Bandarlampung | Sat, 03/15/2008 11:57 AM | The Archipelago
Doctors in Bandarlampung suspect two people from Way Laga, Panjang, of being infected by bird flu, and are observing another eight from the same village.
Head of the Avian Influenza team at the Abdul Moeloek General Hospital in Bandarlampung Pad Dilangga said his team was providing maximum treatment to patients and holding them for further inspection even though they were still just suspects.
"Two patients fled the hospital earlier, sparking panic among their neighbors. We then forcefully fetched them and they are now undergoing treatment at another isolation room," Dilangga said Friday.
Dilangga said the two patients, identified as Lala, 20, and Karniti, 52, showed symptoms of contracting the H5N1 virus, such as high fever, difficulty in breathing, coughing and blood running from their noses.
"We are still observing and treating the other eight patients at the moment," he said.
Lampung health agency head Wiwiek Ekameini said her office could not yet ascertain whether to categorize the outbreak as endemic in Lampung.
"I can't yet say. Just wait for the lab results," said Wiwiek.
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