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EKANBARU, Riau: A two-and-a-half year old bird flu suspect has been referred to Arifin Achmad General Hospital in Pekanbaru after receiving several days of treatment at Ibnu Sina Hospital.

Arifin Achmad Hospital's bird flu response team coordinator Azizman Saad said the patient, Wahyu Ibnu Saputra, had to be referred to his hospital because the symptoms of bird flu he displayed - high fever, breathing difficulties and coughing - had not abated.

"Not only did his fever reach 40 degrees Celsius when he arrived at the hospital, but he also displayed all the signs of someone suffering from bird flu. Preliminary tests also showed a high amount of liquid in his lungs. The patient is still being treated at the bird flu isolation ward and still holds the status of suspect," Azizman told The Jakarta Post on Tuesday.