Air Batu Asahan Villagers Are Confirmed Bird Flu Negative
Jakarta, August 9, 2008 - Ministry of Health - The 12 villagers from Air Batu Village, Asahan District in North Sumatra are confirmed to be negatively infected by the H5N1 virus based on results of the tests conducted by the the Health Research and Development Center of the Ministry of Health. At the moment, the villagers are still being treated at Kisaran Hospital in Kisaran District and Adam malik Hospital in Medan. FH – a 7 year old girl and MSM – a 8 year old boy, who are being treated at Adam Malik Hospital, the reference hopsital for bird flu patient, are getting better as their condition is stabil now.
The bird flu suspects case were found on August 5-7 2008 by the North Sumatra Provincial Health office and the Asahan District Health Office. Based on this founding, free treatment was provided at the hospital, this includes distribution of oseltamivir, taking and sending the suspect's speciment to the Health Research and Development Center of the Ministry of Health, monitoring the suspect cases, contacts surveillance, also heath training.
The team from the Ministry of Health is conducting an active surveilance among the people to look for new cases. Beside that an information, education and communication (IEC) materials about bird flu are given out.
The results from the Rapid test conducted by the Asahan District Livestock office and exemination conducted by Veterinary laboratorium of the North Sumatra Provincial Livestock office shows that the 15 poulty which died suddenly on July 28 2008 in Air Batu Village, Asahan district in North Sumatra are positive bird flu.
It is advised for people not to keep poultry or for people who keep poultry to keep their birds well away from home, and also to clean the cage using disinfectant or detergent at least once a week. If you find sick chickens or there are sudden deaths of poultry in your area, report it immediately to your village leader, district head, or to the district livestock office. If you see someone with influenza like illness (fever, high body temperature, coughing), especially if there are poultry in the area, please immediately have his/ her health check at the nearest health facility.
To prevent bird flu, people need to keep alert and be vigilant, especially if there are sick or sudden deaths of poultry in the area. People are urged to learn more about bird flu and to reduce their risk of contracting the virus by adopting clean and healthy behaviors:
- Don't touch sick or dead chickens. If you have had contact with sick or dead chickens, promptly wash your hands with soap and report the incident to your village head.
- Wash your hands and cooking appliances with soap before cooking. Cook chicken and eggs well.
- Separate poultry from humans. And also separate new poultry from existing poultry flocks for 2 weeks.
- Go to a Public Health Center or Hospital immediately if you have flu and fever symptoms after having contact with poultry/chicken. Do not wait more than two days, especially if there are many poultry around your house or you had contact with poultry
- Wear gloves and cover your nose and mouth when handling poultry
- Do not eat poultry that are sick or have died.
- Cull, burn and bury sick or dead poultry
- Do not let children play with poultry
This information was received by the Public Communication Center at the Ministry of Health from the Bird Flu Information Center on August 09 2008 and is published by The Center for Public Communication, Secretariat General MOHRI. For further information, please call 021-522 3002 and 5296 0661 or send e-mail to: puskom.publik@yahoo.co.id.
Head of Public Communication Center
dr. Lily. S. Sulistyowati, MM
NIP 140 218 301
