Bird flu deaths climb to five in Indonesia

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Main Category: Bird Flu / Avian Flu
Also Included In: Flu / Cold / SARS
Article Date: 06 Nov 2005 - 5:00 PDT

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According to Indonesian officials, the number of people in that country who have died of bird flu now stands at 5. The latest death was of a women, 19, from Tangerand, near Jakarta. She died in October. Health officials say a young boy is currently infected - Indonesia has had nine cases of bird flu infection so far.

Even though a huge number of birds have been dying of bird flu in China, official records show the country has not had one case of humans catching the disease. During the last three weeks there have been four outbreaks in the country. Hong Kong has banned poultry imports from some parts of China.

China is mobilizing its massive army to try to help combat the spread of bird flu within its borders.

The World Bank says plans for $500 million in aid are soon to go into force to help poorer countries fight the spread of avian flu (bird flu).

Cases of birds catching bird flu have spread to various part of the globe. 100 million birds have died so far as a result of bird flu, since 2003. So far, only Southeast Asia has seen human cases. According to WHO, there have been 62 human cases so far.

Health organisations and governments around the globe are taking steps to try to prepare for an 'imminent' flu pandemic. A pandemic will happen when the H5N1 bird flu strain mutates and can spread easily among humans. This has not happened yet. A few months ago health experts said this could be possible - now, nearly all of them are saying it will happen, they just don't know when.

At Medical News Today we have received many e-mails from people saying that this is a conspiracy by big pharma to make money and that there is no looming pandemic threat. If this were the case, why would every single government in the world be talking about it and making preparations?

Written by: Christian Nordqvist
Editor: Medical News Today
Copyright: Medical News Today
Not to be reproduced without permission of Medical News Today

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