Deadly bird flu moves closer
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<!-- END Story Header Block --> <!-- // .article-tools -->Cindy Wockner
August 14, 2007 12:00am
<!-- Split page --><!-- Lead Content Panel -->BALI has recorded its first human death from bird flu and authorities have begun culling all birds in the area in a bid to contain a possible outbreak.
It is also suspected that the dead woman's daughter died from the H5N1 avian flu virus earlier this month ? but she was buried before the possibility was realised.
Yesterday agriculture authorities destroyed 400 birds in a 1km radius of the village of Tukadaya in Jembrana regency, in northwestern Bali, where the victims lived.
The National Bird Flu Control Committee confirmed that Ni Luh Putu Sri Windani, 29, who died in Bali's Sanglah hospital in Denpasar late on Sunday, had tested positive to bird flu.
She was taken to the hospital three days earlier with pneumonia-like symptoms.
Her daughter Dian, 5, had died on August 3 at a local hospital with similar symptoms.
Chickens belonging to a neighbour of the dead woman had previously died, and have tested positive to the virus as well.
A two-year-old child from the same village is currently under observation in Sanglah Hospital with similar symptoms, but doctors said late yesterday that her condition was improving.
Her grandmother Wayan Norni said chickens belonging to her family had previously died, and the dead woman lived about 200m away in the same village.
Authorities are very keen to ensure that Bali does not fall victim to a mass bird flu outbreak ? which would be another blow to the island's tourist industry, hit by a series of terrorist bombings from which it has just begun to recover.
The affected village is, however, about three hours' drive from the main tourist centre of Kuta.
Indonesia has now confirmed 82 bird flu deaths from 103 cases since July 2005.
Dewi Made Oka, the head of Bali's Health Department, said yesterday that a team of officials had gone to the village to cull birds, spray disinfectant and ensure that no more birds were bought into the area.
He said there were no more reports so far of villagers with symptoms.
Article from: </IMG>
<!-- END Story Header Block --> <!-- // .article-tools -->Cindy Wockner
August 14, 2007 12:00am
<!-- Split page --><!-- Lead Content Panel -->BALI has recorded its first human death from bird flu and authorities have begun culling all birds in the area in a bid to contain a possible outbreak.
It is also suspected that the dead woman's daughter died from the H5N1 avian flu virus earlier this month ? but she was buried before the possibility was realised.
Yesterday agriculture authorities destroyed 400 birds in a 1km radius of the village of Tukadaya in Jembrana regency, in northwestern Bali, where the victims lived.
The National Bird Flu Control Committee confirmed that Ni Luh Putu Sri Windani, 29, who died in Bali's Sanglah hospital in Denpasar late on Sunday, had tested positive to bird flu.
She was taken to the hospital three days earlier with pneumonia-like symptoms.
Her daughter Dian, 5, had died on August 3 at a local hospital with similar symptoms.
Chickens belonging to a neighbour of the dead woman had previously died, and have tested positive to the virus as well.
A two-year-old child from the same village is currently under observation in Sanglah Hospital with similar symptoms, but doctors said late yesterday that her condition was improving.
Her grandmother Wayan Norni said chickens belonging to her family had previously died, and the dead woman lived about 200m away in the same village.
Authorities are very keen to ensure that Bali does not fall victim to a mass bird flu outbreak ? which would be another blow to the island's tourist industry, hit by a series of terrorist bombings from which it has just begun to recover.
The affected village is, however, about three hours' drive from the main tourist centre of Kuta.
Indonesia has now confirmed 82 bird flu deaths from 103 cases since July 2005.
Dewi Made Oka, the head of Bali's Health Department, said yesterday that a team of officials had gone to the village to cull birds, spray disinfectant and ensure that no more birds were bought into the area.
He said there were no more reports so far of villagers with symptoms.
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