Indonesia has once again been thrust into the frontiers in the battle against the deadly bird flu after it caused the death of a 67 year old woman. Initial reports also indicate that the virus may have infected her brain and kidney. This marks Indonesia's 54th death from the deadly H5N1 strain of avian influenza.
The woman from the West Java province of Indonesia was hospitalized after she complained of flu-like symptoms. Tests later confirmed the presence of the H5N1 virus. Complications ensued when the infection affected her kidneys and caused encephalitis, a severe inflammation of the brain. In a telephonic interview, one of the doctors at the Hasan Sadikin Hospital where she was admitted expressed grave concerns over the new developments. The H5N1 virus rarely affects the brain and the fact that the last victim has exhibited neurological symptoms has sparked fears that the virus may be mutating into a lethal contagious form that could cause millions of fatalities.
The deadly virus has in the last three years infected over 250 people worldwide, of which 148 were fatal. This year alone the toll was 72. The woman is the second person to be killed by the virus this week in Indonesia. Earlier this week an 11 year old boy from the capital Jakarta was reported to have died after he contracted the virus from infected poultry.
Even as the number of reported cases continues to rise- the country has a fatality rate of 75%- the health authorities in Indonesia are struggling to take immediate and necessary action to curtail the virus spread. Lack of awareness among its huge population, limited resources to cull the millions of birds that roam freely and lack of funds to compensate farmers are all obstacles that are causing the rapid rise in the number of avian flu victims.
