A suspect bird flu [avian A/H5N1 influenza] patient who was treated for 8 days in the regional Public Hospital Gunung Jati, Cirebon City, has now been declared bird flu negative. The patient was allowed to return home after receiving results from the laboratory of the Penelitian Dan Pengembangan Kesehatan Hall of the Department of the Health.
Chairman of the the RS Gunung Jati Bird Flu [Laboratory] Dr Ali Hanafiah stated on Friday (30 Jan 2009) that results of samples of blood, nasal and throat fluids from a suspected bird flu patient had tested negative. Subsequently the patient was allowed to return home.
During the patient’s stay in hospital her clinical condition improved. Her initially low leucocyte counts and her low body temperature returned to normal.
The patient was initially considered to be a suspected bird flu patient because of contact with poultry which had suddenly died. The patient was 8 months pregnant and on admission was suffering from respiratory tract inflammation and bronchial pneumonia. There was no indication of bird flu infection. All test results from the laboratory of Balitbangkes Department of Health were negative for avian influenza virus infection.
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