Suspected avian flu patient dies in Tangerang

MR, 18, a patient who was suspected of having contracted the H5N1 virus died on Wednesday at Tangerang General Hospital after being treated for five days in an isolation room at the city-run hospital.

“The patient died at about 12:30 p.m. from respiratory failure,” said hospital spokesman Achmad Muchlis.

Muchlis said that the patient was a resident of Mekarsari village in Panongan, Tangerang.

“As of today, we can not officially confirm that his death was related to the avian flu virus,” he said, adding that laboratory tests on the patient were negative.

When The Jakarta Post arrived at the hospital, the isolation room where MR had been treated was locked.

According to Muchlis, the remains of the patient had been brought home by his family.

MR suffered a high fever for six days. He was treated at the private Sari hospital in Karawaci last Wednesday. As his condition worsened, the hospital referred him to Tangerang General Hospital on Saturday. (iwa)