Avian influenza – situation in Indonesia – update 50

23 December 2005

The Ministry of Health in Indonesia has confirmed two additional cases of human infection with the H5N1 avian influenza virus.

The first case occurred in an 8-year-old boy from Central Jakarta. He developed symptoms of fever and cough on 8 December. He was hospitalized on 13 December, and died on 15 December.

Family members and close contacts were placed under observation and tested for possible infection, however, none have developed symptoms. Investigations have been undertaken to determine the source of the boy's exposure and samples from pigeons around his household are being tested.

The second case occurred in a 39-year-old man from East Jakarta. He first reported symptoms of fever, headache, cough and shortness of breath on 9 December. He was hospitalized on 11 December and died on 12 December.

Family members and close contacts were placed under observation. Investigations are being undertaken to determine the source of the man’s exposure. While he did not keep poultry in his household, chickens and other birds were found in his neighbourhood. Samples from these birds have been taken and are undergoing tests to determine whether they may have been the source of infection.

These newly confirmed cases bring the total number in Indonesia to 16. Of these cases, 11 were fatal.