Avian influenza - situation in Indonesia - updated 39

February 12, 2008

The Indonesian Ministry of Health has announced a new case of human infection of H5N1 avian influenza. A 15-year-old women in West Jakarta developed symptoms on February 2, was hospitalized on Feb. 8 and is currently in hospital in critical condition. The case is the daughter of a previously confirmed case, the 38-year-old women from West Jakarta who developed symptoms on Jan. 23.

Investigations into the source of infection is continuing. However, it has been exposed to his sick mother on 27-28 January and the time spent in a neighbourbood where chickens and other birds were found. Samples from these birds have been taken and are undergoing tests to determine whether they may have been the source of infection.

Of the 127 confirmed cases in Indonesia, 103 were fatal.