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Bali hospital admits four new suspect flu carriers
On Monday night, Denpasar's Sanglah Public Hospital admitted four new patients believed to be infected with influenza A
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On Monday night, Denpasar's Sanglah Public Hospital admitted four new patients believed to be infected with influenza A.
The four had arrived recently from Europe, the United States and Australia.
"They arrived on different flights, but were suffering influenza-like symptoms during their stays in Bali," said Dr. Agus Somia from the hospital.
"We cannot name the patients and are still waiting for the results of medical examinations and laboratory tests from the Health Ministry lab in Jakarta," Agus said.
Three of the patients had initially been treated at a private hospital in Badung regency, while the other came to Sanglah hospital directly, voluntarily on Monday, he told reporters in Denpasar on Tuesday.
The hospital is currently treating six patients suspected of suffering influenza A (previously referred to as H1N1 or swine flu) infections, in its Nusa Indah isolation room.
Previously, two Australian teens who had tested positive to influenza A were released because their health was improving.
So far, no local people have been reported with influenza A infections.
"However, we are worried that some people are already infected but think it is just common flu," said Dr. Lanang Suartana from Sanglah hospital.
I Nyoman Murtiyasa from the airport's health agency said the screening system used by Ngurah Rai International Airport was not effective in preventing influenza carriers from entering Bali.
"We have distributed Health Alert Cards *HAC* to arriving foreign visitors, and have installed a thermal scanner, but we still have not detected any suspects," Murtisaya said.
Concerning using blood test samples to detect influenza A, Murtiyasa said the idea had been discussed but it was not one of the standard procedures of the World Health Organization.
Meanwhile, Bali provincial administration has allocated Rp 10 billion (around US$10 million) to anticipate any spread of influenza A on the island.
"We have taken the money from our emergency fund," Bali Governor Made Mangku Pastika said Tuesday.
"The fund could be disbursed for the procurement of Tamiflu medicine, surgical masks and to pay for other costs in preventing influenza A from infecting the Bali population," he said.
Bali Health Agency head Nyoman Sutedja said the Rp 10 billion would be used to support the provincial health surveillance team, which also works to in-form the community, the private sector and other agencies about influenza A.
"Any people infected with or suspected of carrying influenza A would be treated at Sanglah Hospital free of charge using the government emergency fund," Nyoman said.
Members of the team would monitor the airport, hotels and public areas to ensure that no flu-infected people went undetected or untreated.
"We have enough Tamiflu medicine and surgical masks," Nyoman said, recommending that visitors from infected countries wear masks for at least three days on arriving in Bali.
