Andi Hajramuni, The Jakarta Post, Makassar |Thu, 11/13/2008 8:23 PM
Wahidin Sudirohusodo Hospital in Makassar, South Sulawesi, has been treating 17 patients since Wednesday for suspected bird flu.
The suspects, 13 of them children, are residents of Sudiang subdistrict. Seven were admitted to the hospital Wednesday, the rest arrived Thursday.
Hospital spokesperson Andi Kurnia Bintang said the patients were suffering from high fever, coughing and breathing difficulty, all symptoms closely associated with bird flu.
"Rapid tests showed they may be infected with the H5N1 avian influenza virus, but we are waiting for blood test results to come back from the Hasanuddin University lab," Kurnia said.
Kurnia said 31 chickens had died in the subdistrict in the past week before three toddlers started to show symptoms Monday.
Separately, head of Makassar's husbandry office, Sulistiawati, said that his office had found several chickens which tested positive in the bird-flu quick test.
She said she had sent officers to cull 20 birds and spray disinfectant at chicken farms in the area. (dre)
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