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Sixteen-year-old girl latest victim in Indonesia |
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JAKARTA, Sun. --- Sixteen-year-old Siti Maulida died of bird flu in a hospital as an ambulance pulled up to take her to a government-designated medical centre that treats cases of the virus. Had she survived the journey, she would have been given antiviral drugs on arrival that could have saved her life, according to a doctor from the centre. “If on the first day she came here, it could have been a different story”, said Dr Ilham Patu from Sulianti Saroso Infectious Diseases Hospital. “Hospitals must transfer their patients quicker”. |
Siti’s death --- the seventh from bird flu reported in Indonesia since July --- shows the importance of early diagnosis. It has also exposed the weaknesses and lack of coordination in Indonesia’s cash-strapped health service. The 5N1 bird flu strain has ravaged poultry stocks across Asia since 2003, and killed at least 67 people. Most human victims are believed to have contracted the disease form sick birds. However, experts fear the virus will mutate into a form that is easily transmitted between people, possibly sparking a global pandemic that could kill millions. |
Siti’s father Baharuddin, 50, said his daughter had first complained of stomachache and fever on Nov 4. When she showed no signs of improvement after two days, he took her to the hospital. Doctors there initially thought she had dengue fever and put her on an IV drip. Two days later, they changed their diagnosis to suspected bird flu. She died later the same day, said Baharuddin. “She managed to chant the Islamic confession of faith one last time, and said she wanted to sleep”, said Baharuddin on the terrace of his one-storey home down in a crowded district of the capital, accessible only by foot. “She never woke up”. --- AP. |
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