The Ministry of Health in Indonesia reported that a 38 year old father who
died on 12 Jul 2005 was the countrys 1st laboratory-confirmed H5N1
positive human case of avian influenza. His 2 daughters also died of severe
pneumonia illness compatible with H5N1 infection, but laboratory
confirmation is not yet available. Limited samples were available from the 8 year old daughter who died on 14 Jul 2005, and the 1 year old daughter who died on 9 Jul 2005.
Samples from the man tested positive for avian influenza H5N1 virus by the WHO H5 reference
laboratories at the Department of Microbiology, University of Hong Kong, and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta USA. Samples from the 2 children are being tested.
Comment
The first confirmed reports of avian flu from Indonesia show that the epidemic in Asia is not under control.
So far, the report of a few cases show not influence plans for travels to Indonesia.
