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No News Is Bad News
# 2197
It has been over six weeks since the last `monthly' update on bird flu cases was released from Indonesia's government. The last official statement came from the WHO on June 19th.
We continue to get sporadic newspaper reports from the local media indicating suspected cases, but thus far, no official confirmation.
Right now, we are watching the case of a 19-year-old who died in Tangerang, suspected of having the H5N1 virus.
No test results have been released, however - so this remains just a suspect case.
A hat tip to Commonground on Flutrackers for this translation.
July and August are traditionally slow months for bird flu news. But not usually this slow.
With the recent lockdown of news out of Indonesia, government sensitivity over any bad press during the Olympics in China, and growing restrictions of freedom of the press in Egypt, getting reports from hot-zone countries is getting harder.
For now, though, we are in danger of being lulled into believing that the bird flu threat disappeared. That no news is good news. That a lack of reporting meant that the virus has gone away.
It hasn't, of course.
But without cases being reported in real time - and full transparency by hot-zone countries - we lose an important advantage. Early warning that things may be heating up, and of course, scientific evidence of changes to the virus.
Hopefully international pressure will be brought to bear on nations that hide, obfuscate, or bury news of bird flu outbreaks, and in particular, human cases.
But for now, their policy of controlling the news seems to be working.
posted by FLA_MEDIC @ 11:24 AM
# 2197
It has been over six weeks since the last `monthly' update on bird flu cases was released from Indonesia's government. The last official statement came from the WHO on June 19th.
19 June 2008 -- The Ministry of Health of Indonesia has announced two new cases of human H5N1 avian influenza infection. The cases are not linked epidemiologically. The first is a 16-year-old female from South Jakarta, DKI Jakarta Province developed symptoms on 7 May, was hospitalized on 12 May and died on 14 May. Investigations into the source of her infection indicate exposure to sick and dead poultry.
The second case is a 34-year-old female from Tangerang District, Banten Province who developed symptoms on 26 May, and was hospitalized on 2 June and died on 3 June. Investigations into the source of her infection are ongoing.
Of the 135 cases confirmed to date in Indonesia, 110 have been fatal.
We continue to get sporadic newspaper reports from the local media indicating suspected cases, but thus far, no official confirmation.
Right now, we are watching the case of a 19-year-old who died in Tangerang, suspected of having the H5N1 virus.
No test results have been released, however - so this remains just a suspect case.
A hat tip to Commonground on Flutrackers for this translation.
Helped buried the chicken died.
02/08/08
Tangerang - After could be treated two days in Tangerang space of the isolation of Public Hospital bird flu, the Bachelor (Joko), 19 years, the resident of the Village of Jambu Tegal, RT 06/02, the Village JambuGreat, the Rejeg Subdistrict, the Tangerang Regency, died.
The employee of the factory in the region of Cikupa Tangerang experienced breathless great and died last Thursday in struck 22,00 WIB.
Section Head Kesehatan of the Regency Tangerang Hani Heryanto says up to now was not yet known whether the Bachelor was infected by the virus H5N1 or not. Was researched, said he yesterday.
According to Hani, if being seen from the biography of casualties, he once contact with the poultry of two last week. "In his residence had the poultry died," said he. However, he still will investigate further to confirm whether the Bachelor contracted bird flu or because of the other illness.
Moreover, Hani added, the Service sent the sample of blood, the saliva, and the waste of casualties to the Penelitian Departemen Hall of the Health. The blood inspection to closest people of casualties also was carried out. Officially Peternakan, said he, has checked the poultry in the environment of the Bachelor's residence.
According to Anang, casualties's father, the indication of the bird flu illness that was suffered by Joko it was said the team of the doctor. However, the assurance was still being waiting for the example inspection of the Bachelor's blood.
July and August are traditionally slow months for bird flu news. But not usually this slow.
With the recent lockdown of news out of Indonesia, government sensitivity over any bad press during the Olympics in China, and growing restrictions of freedom of the press in Egypt, getting reports from hot-zone countries is getting harder.
Obviously, if there is a major outbreak, these countries won't be able to hide it for long. That's a small comfort, anyway.
For now, though, we are in danger of being lulled into believing that the bird flu threat disappeared. That no news is good news. That a lack of reporting meant that the virus has gone away.
It hasn't, of course.
But without cases being reported in real time - and full transparency by hot-zone countries - we lose an important advantage. Early warning that things may be heating up, and of course, scientific evidence of changes to the virus.
Hopefully international pressure will be brought to bear on nations that hide, obfuscate, or bury news of bird flu outbreaks, and in particular, human cases.
But for now, their policy of controlling the news seems to be working.
posted by FLA_MEDIC @ 11:24 AM
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