Seven foreigners treated for `H1N1'

Luh De Suriyani ,  THE JAKARTA POST ,  DENPASAR   |  Fri, 06/26/2009 1:05 PM  |  National

Seven foreign visitors, suspected of having contracted the H1N1 strain of influenza A, are undergoing intensive treatment at Sanglah General Hospital's Nusa Indah isolation ward in Bali province.

The unidentified patients were screened by the hospital's medical team and were found to have influenza-like symptoms that include coughs and high fever.

I Gusti Lanang Suartana, head of the hospital's medical services unit, said the hospital had only prepared six isolation rooms to treat suspected H1N1 patients.

"We've received nine such patients since Thursday afternoon, one of them H1N1-positive," the doctor said.

As it prepares for an influx of more patients, the hospital has prepared 17 additional isolation rooms.

"This is the maximum capacity we have here," Suartana said.

"If needed, we can send suspected H1N1 patients to nearby hospitals, including the Gianyar and Tabanan general hospitals."

Earlier this month, a UK citizen identified only as B.S., 22, tested positive for the H1N1 viral infection.

"Our lab test showed she had the H1N1 strain of flu," Suartana said.

The patient, who lives in Australia, entered Bali through Ngurah Rai International Airport on June 19, but was not detected by the airports thermal scanners.

On the same flight plying the Melbourne-Denpasar route, a young Australian boy identified only as G.C., 12, also passed through undetected, despite exhibiting flu-like symptoms.

On Tuesday afternoon, the boy was admitted to Sanglah General Hospital and treated in an isolation room.

"We are still waiting for his test results from Jakarta," said I Nyoman Sutedja, head of the Bali Health Office.

"As for the British woman, the tests showed up positive; she is now being treated intensively and is showing significant improvement."

He added she had to remain in the isolation room for at least seven days, before she could be declared healthy once again.

Sutedja said the local health authorities had already examined B.S.'s mother and younger sister, now staying in the Jimbaran area.

"They're healthy but we recommended they stay indoors for at least a week," he said.

Bali Governor I Made Mangku Pastika has called on health officials and airport authorities to increase their monitoring of international visitors entering the resort island, especially those from countries with confirmed outbreaks of influenza A.

"I call on everyone to be on the alert for any possible flu outbreak. But please don't panic," the governor said.

Putu Suardhika, head of the provincial administration's public affairs unit, said more staff would be deployed to the airport for round-the-clock monitoring.

The island is expecting a surge in visitor numbers in the next two months, as the peak holiday season gets into gear. Ngurah Rai International Airport serves direct flights from foreign countries including Australia, Japan, Taiwan, South Korea, Singapore, Malaysia and Thailand.

The airport serves six direct flights to Australia daily.

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