Bird flu death toll rises to six in Indonesia
The death toll from Indonesia’s bird flu outbreak has risen to six, as the government announced it has ordered more than half a million tablets of anti-viral medication to help fight the disease.
It was unclear whether the six dead included a woman with the virus who died today.
The 27-year-old woman had been treated for symptoms of the virus since last Thursday at the government-designated hospital for suspected bird flu cases, said Dr. Sardikin Giriputro.
Giriputro, the hospital’s deputy head, said initial tests at the hospital showed the patient had contracted bird flu, but further tests would be needed to confirm the diagnosis.
Nyoman Kandun, director general of Communicable Disease Control, said 10 others had caught the disease, but some of them were not showing any symptoms.
He also said 34 people across the country had been admitted to hospital with symptoms of bird flu.
Health Minister Siti Fadila Supari said 200,000 tablets of the anti-viral drug oseltamivir, known commercially as Tamiflu, would be available tomorrow and another 400,000 tablets by Friday.
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