Indonesia confirms first two A/H1N1 flu cases

indonesian Health Minister Siti Fadilah Supari (C) speaks during a press conference in Jakarta,
capital of Indonesia, June 24, 2009. Supari confirmed here on Wednesday that a 37-year-old Indonesian pilot and a 22-year-old British woman were tested positive for A/H1N1 flu virus in the country. It is the first time for Indonesia to report A/H1N1 flu cases. (Xinhua/Yue Yuewei)


JAKARTA, June 24 (Xinhua) -- Indonesian Health Minister Siti Fadilah Supari confirmed here on Wednesday that a 37-year-old Indonesian pilot and a 22-year-old British woman were tested positive for A/H1N1 flu virus in the country.

This is the first time for Indonesia to report A/H1N1 flu cases. The minister said that both patients were infected abroad.

The pilot visited Perth of Australia on June 16 and China's Hong Kong on June 18 and got medical treatment at Sulianti Saroso Hospital in Indonesia on June 19 because of having fever, Supari said.

The British woman visited Bali island on June 19, after visiting Melbourne of Australia, she said.

On June 20 she had fever, and cough, and she came to hospital by showing a health alert card obtained from Ngurah Rai airport in Bali and then she was treated at Sang Lah Hospital, the minister added.

Indonesian Health Minister Siti Fadilah Supari (R front) speaks to reporters in Jakarta, capital of Indonesia, June 24, 2009. Supari confirmed here on Wednesday that a 37-year-old Indonesian pilot and a 22-year-old British woman were tested positive for A/H1N1 flu virus in the country. It is the first time for Indonesia to report A/H1N1 flu cases. (Xinhua/Yue Yuewei)

"The two cases H1N1 are cases which come from overseas, it (the virus) has not spread in Indonesia," she told a press conference here.

To prevent the spread of the virus, the health ministry boosted precaution measures already taken nationwide, the minister said. Visitors from infected countries, such as Australia, would have special surveillance, the minister said.

The minister said that new steps would be taken such as intensifying communication among health authorities in the region and stepping up surveillance in Bali, where many visitors from Australia, which has been infected by the virus with 2,436 cases, are coming in.

"With our neighboring countries, communication would be intensified through telephone. Should a patient is found in a plane, (for example), it would be examined all the passenger in the three line vertical and horizontal," she said.

Indonesian Health Minister Siti Fadilah Supari (1st R) speaks during a press conference in Jakarta, capital of Indonesia, June 24, 2009. (Xinhua/Yue Yuewei)

As the spread of the virus in Australia was high, the minister said that the authorities gave every visitor from the country a health alert card.

"Honestly, I worry about those coming from Australia. We take a special measure at surveillance post in Bali to prevent those coming from Australia for vacation to Bali bring the virus," she said.

"We boost our precaution at all level of health authorities, and step up preparedness on all health facilities at all hospitals, airports, laboratory, and others," Supari said.

Four Indonesians so far have been affected by the virus overseas. The ministry forbids them to return home before they were cleared from the disease, she said.

source: http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2009-06/24/content_11594161.htm