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AKASSAR, South Sulawesi: Dr. Wahidin Sudirohusodo Hospital in the South Sulawesi capital of Makassar is treating four people from Pinrang and Soppeng regencies for displaying symptoms of avian flu virus infection.

The patients, three of them are children, were admitted to the hospital on Tuesday night after complaining about high fever, suffocation and coughs.

They were immediately taken to the infection center in accordance with the standard operating procedure for avian flu treatment, the hospital’s director, Kalsum Patonangi, said Wednesday.

“We are waiting for the laboratory examination to confirm the status of the patients,” Kalsum said.

Head of the Pinrang health agency for disease control, Dyah Puspita Dewi, said the agency had monitored 30 people who suffered from fever. She added three of them were admitted to the hospital as their health condition worsened.

“We suspect the three people were infected with the bird flu virus as their fever reaches 38 degree Celsius and complain of suffocation, sore throats and coughs, which are symptoms of the disease,” she said.

She added the three patients caught a fever after dozens of chickens nearby their homes suddenly died. — JP