Indonesia: Suspect Bird Flu in Pekanbaru Critical

January 10, 2010
Pekanbaru (ANTARA News) - A boy initials JF (17), who allegedly (suspect) infected with the virus that causes bird flu, H5N1, is now in critical condition at the Arifin Achmad Hospital in Pekanbaru, Riau.

"Patients in critical condition because until now still in a coma," said Chairman of Avian Influenza Control Arifin Achmad Hospital, Azisman Saad, told AFP in Pekanbaru, Sunday.

Pekanbaru residents were still in intensive care in a special isolation room bird flu patients. According to Azisman, patients experience a high fever with body temperature reached 37.5 degrees Celsius.

In addition, he said, patients also experience difficulty in breathing because breath reaches 60 per minute. Meanwhile, breathing human beings under normal conditions range from 16-20 per minute.

"Patients still need help respirator machines to survive," he said.

He added that the team doctors and the Riau provincial health office has taken samples of blood and mucus (SWAP) from JF to be sent to the Research and Department of Health in Jakarta to ensure the patient.

One patient's family, Evy, saying that JF was in a coma for three days since last Friday (8 / 1). He said JF was experiencing fever, shortness of breath and diarrhea before it finally collapsed.

The family had brought JF previous to the Hospital of Santa Maria Pekanbaru, and finally was referred to Arifin Achmad Hospital because the doctors suspected bird flu infected patient.

"Until now we do not know where he could get the disease because in his house in Pekanbaru no dead birds, and he (JF) during this study in West Sumatra," said Evy.

Positive

Saad said Azisman since December 2009, RUSD Arifin Achmad Pekanbaru has handled three cases of bird flu. Two patients are young children (under five years) from Indragiri Hulu (Inhu), and another is from Pekanbaru JF.

One toddler from Inhu patients had died on December 31 because of late to get medical treatment. While the initials AN suspect, a female toddler Inhu origin, have tested positive for H5N1 virus.

"The results of examination of MOH in Jakarta showed positive bird flu," said Azisman.

According to him, the team doctor sampe received last Friday (8 / 1). Even so, the patient's condition is now normal and not have to be treated in isolation rooms.

"At first the doctors had let him go home. But because of the positive samples of H5N1, the patient was transferred to the care of children," he said.
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