JAKARTA - Indonesian doctors were yesterday observing 10 patients with bird flu-like symptoms amid concern that a deadly avian influenza outbreak is spreading.
The deaths of four Indonesians since July from the highly pathogenic H5N1 strain of bird flu have been confirmed.
The flu has killed 64 people in four Asian countries since late 2003 and has been found in birds in Russia and Europe.
"We are observing 11 cases, including the one that died yesterday," said I Nyoman Kandun, the head of disease control at Indonesia's health ministry, referring to a girl who died on Wednesday at Jakarta's infectious diseases hospital.
Initial testing showed the girl did not die of bird flu, but further blood samples have been sent to a Hong Kong laboratory.
Kandun said tests so far showed there was only one patient of those being observed who was positive for the H5N1 virus. That patient is related to a Jakarta woman who died of bird flu almost two weeks ago.
The UN World Health Organisation last week warned bird flu was moving towards a form that could be passed between humans and the world had no time to waste to prevent a pandemic.
Georg Petersen, the organisation's representative in Jakarta, said this week many foreign experts were helping Indonesia, including a high-level delegation from the United States.
The health organisation was also working with the Government to source new stocks of the anti-viral drug Tamiflu to bolster local stocks.
Tamiflu is an anti-viral tablet that can help against infection.
Several companies are working on a vaccine, but tests are not expected to begin until later in the year.
Meanwhile, the Government is appealing for public calm over the virus, which has been dominating local media reports.
On Monday, the Government imposed a state of high alert, which gives authorities the power to order people showing symptoms of the virus to be sent to hospital.
Outside Indonesia, bird flu has killed 44 people in Vietnam, 12 people in Thailand and four in Cambodia.
- REUTERS
10 patients monitored as bird flu fear spreads
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