Bird flu suspect dies in Pekanbaru

The Jakarta Post, Jakarta | Thu, 03/26/2009 2:44 PM

Two-year old Wahyu Ibnu Saputra, who has been intensively treated for a suspected birdflu case, died in an isolated room at Arifin Achmad Hospital in Pekanbaru, Riau, on early Thursday morning.

Azizman Saad of the hospital's birdflu handling team told Antara that Wahyu had trouble breathing and lost his consciousness before his death.

He said that six doctors worked to save the boy's life. Wahyu was pronounced dead at around 02:00 a.m..

Azizman said that the patient's condition was relatively well on Wednesday morning, but quickly deteriorated during the evening.

Wahyu was admitted as birdflu suspect last Friday after he had been treated at another hospital for six days.

Azizman said the hospital has yet to announce whether the boy died of birdflu because it was still waiting for nasal and throat swabs test result form the Health Ministry laboratory in Jakarta. (dre)