After the avian influenza outbreak has claimed six lives in Indonesia, currently, 54 other individuals are receiving treatment for symptoms related to the virus.
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Boxes of Tamiflu used for avian flu patients in Jakarta |
Sulianto Saroso Hospital, a facility specializing in infectious diseases in Jakarta, reports that three individuals (two adults and a two-year-old child) have tested negative for the virus. These three individuals will be allowed to leave the hospital as soon as the results are confirmed by the government.
The latest suspected case of avian influenza in Indonesia occurred last night when a 23-year-old man from Jakarta was admitted to the hospital. It is noted that since Monday, the Saroso hospital has discharged five individuals suspected of infection after they received negative test results.
Upon admission, blood and nasal swab samples from suspected cases are sent to the local laboratory. If the results indicate a positive avian influenza infection, the samples will be forwarded to the World Health Organization (WHO) laboratory in Hong Kong for confirmation.
Sumardi, a spokesperson for the Ministry of Health, stated that an order for 20,000 doses of Tamiflu, an antiviral medication capable of mitigating influenza if detected early, is expected to arrive in Indonesia this Friday.
KINH LUÂN (According to AFP)