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Three suspected bird flu patients die in Sumatra

11 May 2006, MEDAN - Three suspected bird flu patients have died in Indonesia's North Sumatra province during the past week, all were the residents of a same village in Karo regency, a newspaper reported Thursday. The province's Bird Flu Prevention Team also announced three other suspected bird flu patients are currently being treated at Adam Malik Hospital in the provincial capital of Medan, said The Jakarta Post.

The three dead victims reportedly had eaten chicken together, and several days later they experienced breathing problems and high fever. North Sumatra Health Office chief Fatni Sulani was quoted as saying the office was investigating the cases and had sent blood samples from the three to Jakarta for testing. "We expect the results of the blood tests to be completed in the next two weeks. For the meantime, the three victims are still suspected, not positive, bird flu patients," Fatni said.

She said that North Sumatra has not had a confirmed case of bird flu in humans. "So far, the bird flu virus in North Sumatra has only affected fowl," she said. The World Health Organization has confirmed 25 bird flu deaths in Indonesia.