Seven Indonesians Do Not Have Bird Flu

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Main Category: Bird Flu / Avian Flu
Article Date: 03 Aug 2006 - 9:00 PDT

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Lab results have indicated that seven Indonesians who were suspected of being infected with bird flu are free of the disease - samples tested negative for H5N1 or any other type of bird flu. A Health Ministry official confirmed that the seven patients do not have bird flu.

The seven people are from northern Sumatra, Karo district, Indonesia. This is the same area where seven family members, all of whom shared a room, died a couple of months ago.

When the current seven people came down with bird flu like symptoms there was concern that a new cluster had appeared - the lab results show this is not the case.

Indonesian Health Minister, Siti Fadilah Supari, said in a public statement to the press that the area is free of human bird flu infection. Apparently, the patients have a serious bout of normal human flu.

There is some confusion about the exact number of patients, some sources are quoting seven while others are quoting six.

(Bird Flu = Avian Flu)
(H5N1 = This is a bird flu virus strain. The most virulent one)

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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