Indonesian cluster determined not to be bird flu

[Guest guest]

The seventeen people, all from the same neighborhood in Indonesia, and

all of whom displayed symptoms of bird flu, and all of whom initially

tested positive for H5N1, have now been cleared by more accurate tests.

http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/SP170904.htm

Indonesia says 17 in Sulawesi not infected with bird flu

20 Nov 2008 10:48:25 GMT

Source: Reuters

JAKARTA, Nov 20 (Reuters) - Bird flu has been ruled out as the cause

of illness in 17 people from the same neighbourhood of Makasar in

Sulawesi, Indonesia, a health ministry official said on Thursday.

The 17 were hospitalised this month after falling sick shortly after a

rash of unexplained chicken deaths in the area.

" The result of the tests is negative, " said Lily Sulistyowati,

spokeswoman of the ministry, without giving details.

Suspected outbreaks raise concerns about rare human-to-human

transmission or that the virus might have mutated into a form that can

pass easily among people.

The country's largest known cluster of bird flu cases in humans

occurred in May 2006 in the Karo district of North Sumatra province,

when as many as seven people in an extended family died.

The World Health Organisation said at the time that limited

human-to-human transmission could not be ruled out but that the virus

samples from the scene did not show any significant genetic mutations.

Bird flu remains mainly an animal disease, but experts fear the H5N1

virus might mutate into a pandemic strain that would sweep the globe,

possibly killing millions and hobbling economies.

Indonesia has the highest toll of any nation. Some 112 people have

died because of the disease.

Last week, a health official said a 15-year-old Indonesian girl had

died of bird flu in central Java, but Chandra Yoga Adhitama, acting

director-general of communicable disease control, said tests showed

bird flu was not responsible. (Reporting by Telly Nathalia; Editing by

Sugita Katyal)