Indonesia - South Sulawesi - Bird flu suspects tested negative

[Laidback Al]

Re: Indonesia - Bird flu in poultry in 11 districts in South Sulawesi - 49,000 birds died

Re: Indonesia - Bird flu in poultry in 11 districts in South Sulawesi - 49,000 birds died

?There are only very few provinces in Indonesia that remain bird-flu free, but the number of cases among humans is decreasing significantly,? Tjandra Yoga Aditama, the Ministry of Health?s director general for disease control, told the Jakarta Globe.

This can only be interpreted that Indonesia has had many more human H5N1 infections than the six that have been officially reported to WHO this year.

An interesting irony is that Prof. Tjandra Yoga Aditama is Indonesia's representative responsible for implementing International Health Regulations (IHR) as the ?National IHR Focal Point? for Indonesia. See this link from earlier this year.

So one would think that as the IHR focal point for Indonesia that Dr. Tjandra Yoga Aditama is familiar with Artilcle 6 (Notification), Section 1 of the IHR which states

1. Each State Party shall assess events occurring within its territory by using the decision instrument in Annex 2. Each State Party shall notify WHO, by the most efficient means of communication available, by way of the National IHR Focal Point, and within 24 hours of assessment of public health information, of all events which may constitute a public health emergency of international concern within its territory in accordance with the decision instrument, as well as any health measure implemented in response to those events. If the notification received by WHO involves
the competency of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), WHO shall immediately notify the IAEA.

link to full IHR.

Perhaps some local Jarkarta media representatives can ask Tjandra Yoga Aditama why human bird flu cases in Indonesia are not being reported to WHO within the required 24 hour notification period.

 

[Gert van der Hoek]

Re: Indonesia - Bird flu in poultry in 11 districts in South Sulawesi - 49,000 birds died

Re: Indonesia - Bird flu in poultry in 11 districts in South Sulawesi - 49,000 birds died

Decreasing significantly from zero??

Decreasing , if you compare the numbers of this year to the numbers in the previous years; it is a comment you see quite often in the Indonesian media.

2010 - 6 cases, 5 deaths

2009 - 21 cases, 19 deaths

2008 - 24 cases, 20 deaths

2007 - 42 cases, 37 deaths

2006 - 55 cases, 45 deaths

WHO


Yes, you can discuss underreporting; I don't know if there could be more or less underreporting this year compared to the previous years.

 

[Laidback Al]

Re: Indonesia - Bird flu in poultry in 11 districts in South Sulawesi - 49,000 birds died

Re: Indonesia - Bird flu in poultry in 11 districts in South Sulawesi - 49,000 birds died

Decreasing , if you compare the numbers of this year to the numbers in the previous years; it is a comment you see quite often in the Indonesian media.

2010 - 6 cases, 5 deaths

2009 - 21 cases, 19 deaths

2008 - 24 cases, 20 deaths

2007 - 42 cases, 37 deaths

2006 - 55 cases, 45 deaths

WHO


Yes, you can discuss underreporting; I don't know if there could be more or less underreporting this year compared to the previous years.

Why would there ever be underreporting. With the world's highest number of human H5N1 cases, you would think that Indonesia has the capabilities to accurately test and identify human H5N1 cases. I don't believe that that they are unsure about test results.

The failure of the Ministry of Health to report cases in a timely manner undermines any credibility that the numbers they are posting are accurate.