JAKARTA, 08 August 2008 - Avian Influenza virus has hit Indonesia killing three people with 13 others admitted to hospital with symptoms. Residents in Asahan district of North Sumatra province say last week, villagers began showing symptoms of avian flu after a large number of chickens died suddenly. A baby boy and a seven year old girl were transferred early this morning to a bird flu isolation unit at Adam Malik hospital in the provincial capital of Medan.

A spokesperson at the hospital, Sinar Ginting confirmed that blood samples from the two children when tested revealed the virus. The Ministry, which has stopped giving regular bird flu updates, announced earlier this week that the human toll from avian influenza in Indonesia has risen to one hundred and 12 with the recent death of a 19 year old man. Indonesia is the worst hit country by the deadly H5N1 strain of bird flu, which can be passed from bird to human.

  21 November 2008 · Indonesia to plant 100 million trees this year
  20 November 2008 · Indonesia corruption watchdog to work with FBI
  19 November 2008 · Tiny primate rediscovered on Sulawesi
  18 November 2008 · Quicker opening of Jakarta airport toll road
  17 November 2008 · More executions likely to follow in Indonesia
  17 November 2008 · Powerful earthquake hits Minahasa, Sulawesi
  16 November 2008 · Bali water supply endangered by shrinking Lake Batur
  16 November 2008 · Bali police chief 'needs to' enforce new anti-pornography law
  15 November 2008 · Landslide kills ten in West Java province
  14 November 2008 · Rihanna cancels concert in Indonesia amid safety concerns