Deaths climb in Indonesia

08/08/2006 - 11:39:07 AM

Indonesia records 43rd death from bird flu

A 16-year-old Indonesian boy has died from bird flu, according to local test results that, if confirmed, would bring Indonesia’s death toll to 43 and make it the world’s hardest-hit country.

Normally reliable tests performed at a local laboratory showed that the boy who died late yesterday had the H5N1 virus, said Dr. Santoso Suroso, the director of the capital’s infectious diseases hospital, where he was treated for three days.

Grieving relatives buried Megi Saputra early today at a family plot shaded by jackfruit trees close to his home in Bekasi, just east of Jakarta. A short distance away from the cemetery, villagers were rearing chickens in coops.

“I knew about bird flu from the TV and radio, but when my son got sick I had no clue it was bird flu,” Megi’s mother Sadiah said after the funeral. “I had no idea he was going to leave me.”

She said Megi was initially diagnosed with typhoid and told to go home.

It was only four days after symptoms appeared that bird flu was suspected, and by then it was too late, said Sadiah, wiping away her tears.

Health officials said Megi was suspected of coming into contact with sick chickens near his home, where he lived with his parents and seven brothers and sisters.

Neighbour Hasan Basri said Megi kept racing pigeons, which had probably been infected by sick chickens in a nearby coop.

Another neighbour, 40-year-old Romlah who uses a single name, said she had seen posters warning about bird flu, but that the government “should intensify its campaign to prevent more deaths.” Door-to-door visits are needed to get the message to everyone, she said.

Health Ministry official Nyoman Kandun said Megi’s swab and blood samples have been sent to the United States for further testing.