A

city health office revealed Saturday that eight patients treated at the Sulianti Saroso Infection Hospital in North Jakarta for swine flu symptoms were in much better condition, while one patient was still being closely monitored, as he was suspected of having swine flu.

The South Tangerang office's head of surveillance, Tulus Muladiono, said patients that had recovered from the swine flu symptoms and were feeling better included WA, 36, IG, 33, LP, 17, and WA, 21, all residents of Serpong, NN, 30, a resident of Pondok Aren, SN, 14, a resident of Pamulang, S, 12, a resident of North Serpong and MR, 10, a Setu district resident.

"Those patients were being treated in hospital and have now been released," he said.

Tulus, however, said his office was still monitoring the condition of a Parigi Lama resident in Pondok Aren, known as M, 16, who displayed similar symptoms.

Dadang M. Epid, head of the South Tangerang health office, said M, who was also a student of the Darrusalam Islamic boarding school in Cilangkap, Depok, had a high fever on Wednesday. M returned home after school. He was later rushed to a nearby public health clinic.

"We have taken samples of blood from M as well as his family members, and sent them *the samples* to the laboratory of the Ministry of Health. Now, we are awaiting the result of the laboratory tests," Dadang said.

When asked about the fatality rate of the H1N1 virus in humans, Tjandra Yoga Aditama, director general for disease control at the Health Ministry, said the virus was fatal for those suffering from other recurring illnesses, like chronic tuberculosis, heart problems, cancer and diabetes.

Pregnant women and obese individuals were also susceptible of succumbing to the adverse impact of the virus, Tjandra said.

He said most people who died from swine flu also suffered complications from other chronic illnesses.