Padang, West Sumatera – A bird flu (H5N1) suspect patient from Sungaibuluh, Kabupaten Dharmasraya, passed away on Saturday (4/7). Victim, with initial RK, 7.5-year-old, died after being treated for five hours in isolation unit, Irna C Internal Medicine, M Djamil Hospital, Padang, Saturday (4/;7).
On the following day after RK’s burial, a nurse who was taking care of RK during isolation, developed bird flu-like symptoms. The nurse, with initial M, is now under treatment in isolation unit Irna C Internal Medicine, M Djamil Hospital
“RK arrived in critical condition at the time of admission to M Djamil hospital, last Saturday (6/7). Patient passed away within 5 hours after that, it was around 10 pm,” said the Director of M Djamil hospital, Padang Aguswan. At the time of admission, victim was unconscious, and assisted by oxygen supply. Until now, M Djamil hospital still cannot confirm whether victim died of bird flu virus or not.
Previously, RK had been treated at Adnaan WD hospital, in Payakumbuh, where at that time victim was having vacation in his/her grandmother’s house. After that, victim was transferred to Yos Sudarso hospital, in Padang. “Chest x-ray revealed bird flu signs. At that moment, patient had body temperature up to 37.5℃ accompanied with breathing difficulty”, said Aguswan.
“We are still waiting for throat swab and blood samples test result from Ministry of Health Laboratory,” said Aguswan.
Since 2006, M Djamil hospital has been treating 9 bird flu suspects from several areas in West Sumatera, including Padangpariaman, Limapuluh Kota, Agam dan Dharmasraya. One fatality was recorded in 2007.
Source: Indonesia local newspaper, Padang Ekspres. http://www.padangekspres.co.id/index.php?mib=berita.detail&id=8229
===AvianInfluenzaIndonesia===