Avian Flu Diary: WHO: Indonesia Confirms Two Human H5N1 Cases

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This announcement comes as WHO member states are gathered in Geneva for an Intergovernmental Meeting on Pandemic Influenza Preparedness, which runs through Saturday.

Indonesia confirms two human bird flu cases - WHO

09 Dec 2008 14:15:19 GMT

Source: Reuters

GENEVA, Dec 9 (Reuters) - Indonesia has confirmed two new cases of human bird flu, the first officially reported since September in the country which remains the hardest-hit by the deadly virus, the World Health Organisation said on Tuesday.

A nine-year-old girl in Riau province developed symptoms on Nov. 7 after poultry apparently died at her home, the WHO said in a statement. She was hospitalised five days later and discharged on Nov. 22 after recovering.

A two-year-old girl from East Jakarta died on Nov. 29 after developing symptoms on Nov. 18, it said. "Investigations into the source of her infection suggest exposure at a live bird market."

The two latest cases took Indonesia's known number of bird flu infections to 139, including 113 deaths, since 2003, according to the United Nations health agency.

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As noted further down in this article, not included is the 15-year-old girl from central Java who's doctor publicly stated that she had died from the H5N1 virus early last month.

The WHO Update reads:

Avian influenza – situation in Indonesia – update 45

9 December 2008 -- The Ministry of Health of Indonesia has announced two new confirmed cases of human infection with the H5N1 avian influenza virus. A 9-year-old female from Riau Province developed symptoms on 7 November and was hospitalized on 12 November. She recovered and was discharged from hospital on 27 November. Laboratory tests confirmed the presence of the H5N1 avian influenza virus. Investigations into the source of her infection indicate poultry deaths at her home on 2 November.

The second case, a 2-year-old female from East Jakarta, developed symptoms on 18 November, was hospitalized on 26 November and died on 29 November. Laboratory tests have confirmed infection with the H5N1 avian influenza virus. Initial investigations into the source of her infection suggest exposure at a live bird market.

Of the 139 cases confirmed to date in Indonesia, 113 have been fatal.

The primary focus of this week's WHO gathering is to discuss, and hopefully resolve, issues pertaining to the sharing of virus samples and vaccines.

Indonesia is claiming IP (Intellectual Property) rights on viruses that emerge from within their borders, and believe that they should control their distribution and use.

Indonesia has refused to `share' virus samples until guarantees are made that they will be provided with vaccines, made from these samples, at an affordable price.

Additionally, Indonesia has been slow to report human cases of H5N1 infection - preferring to provide aggregate totals every few months instead of real-time reporting.

This dispute has been ongoing for two years, and during that time the world has had very little access to virus samples from Indonesia, creating a dangerous blind spot for scientists hoping to detect changes in the virus.

While the official death toll stands at 113 in Indonesia, due to inconsistent and oft times inaccurate testing, few observers believe that number fully reflects the situation.

Dr. Margaret Chan, Director-General of the World Health Organization, spoke at the opening of the Intergovernmental meeting (full text of speech here), and had this to say about the pandemic threat.

This meeting is yet another expression of the continuing concern about the serious consequences of an influenza pandemic. This concern is shared among governments, and among their multiple ministries, all around the world.

The concern is rightly placed, as is the emphasis on preparedness. I can think of no other health event that is so rapidly global in its sweep, or so potentially devastating in terms of human illness and deaths, and severe economic and social disruption.