Girl, 2, Tests Negative for Bird Flu
Jakarta, August 15, 2007 - A two-year-old girl who is a neighbor of Bali’s first and only confirmed bird flu victim is not infected with the H5N1 bird flu virus, the Ministry of Health confirmed today. The two-year-old girl, referred to as PN, lives in the same village in Jembrana District, Bali, as a 29-year-old woman, known as NLP, who died from avian influenza on August 12. PN became ill on 10 August with symptoms of fever and a runny nose and samples were taken for testing as a precaution; however testing at two laboratories in Jakarta have confirmed that PN does not carry the H5N1 virus. Another child, D, the five-year-old daughter of the 29-year-old victim, died on August 4, but samples were not taken for testing.
Investigators have determined that both NLP and D were exposed to H5N1-positive birds in the area. Authorities supported by the United Nations are undertaking activities to contain the outbreak, including the mass culling of birds in the area and social mobilization activities to improve public awareness about bird flu.
Until now, sick birds remain the primary source of human infection with the H5N1 virus. There are steps everyone can take to reduce the risk of infection with H5N1 influenza:
- 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.
