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Tensions between Riau and Jakarta, news media turn nasty

The recent flap over whether ten-year old Gozi Sultia Ningsih actually died of H5N1 avian influenza or "regular" fever rages on, and will not be resolved until the WHO weighs in with the final word. However, that has not stopped officials from demanding that surveillance be stepped up in the region.

And it has, with the disclosure that no fewer than eleven (11) children from Gozi's immediate neighborhood (photo) have been taken in for testing and observation. The eleven began displaying flu-like symptoms. It started with seven childrem. 

From China's Xinhua news service:

The number of suspected cases in Riau just this year now numbers 29, with either 5 or 6 confirmed cases, and 4 or 5 deaths.  The exact number of dead may never truly be known, since the local officials apparently are not that keen on taking samples.  This trait is not limited to Indonesia:  How many Western doctors -- shoot, how many American doctors are, be it due to arrogance or a lack of motivation, reluctant to take requisite samples because they are so stubborn in their belief they know the cause of the malaise?  Why are so many seasonal flu samples taken in this country not strain-specific (they just say "Untyped")?

Then the Riau testing number suddenly turned to eleven.  From Riau Today, with translation provided by alert multiflusite poster Dutchy :

7 children Siak Evidently Negative Bird Flu

on Wednesday, on October 24 2007

From results of the beginning inspection in RSUD Siak, seven children from the Merempan Hulu Village, Kabupaten Siak that was stated suspect bird flu, results of bird flu of the negative.

They it was warned only were affected by the common fever.

In accordance with protap (protocol,ed) the handling of bird flu, the seven children were from this Merempan Village reconciled by the beginning inspection in RSUD Siak.

’ Examination early, seven children the Merempan Hulu Village mentioned the bird flu negative. Afterwards four other children who also took part in being checked by us, results of the negative. (underline mine)

In accordance with clinical (examination,ed), both from results of the inspection x-rayed and laboratory , was not found by the existence of the sign that headed in the attack of the bird flu virus.

The sign was sick the fever that was found by only common fevers ,’’ said the RSUD Siak Head Dr R Toni to Riau Pos, on Tuesday (23/10) in Siak.

According to Dr Toni, originally from results of the survey that we received had seven villagers Merempan that it was suspected was attacked by bird flu.

The seven villagers Merempan that suspected was attacked by this bird flu in general was supervised by the age 10 years with the condition experienced the fever.

To strengthen this assumption, in accordance with protap (protocol,ed) the handling of bird flu, the seven children were at once reconciled to RSUD to be carried out examinaton early.

From seven that was examined, afterwards had four other patients who also went along dipriksa because of taking part in being suspected of being attacked by bird flu.

And from results of the beginning inspection, the eleven patients who were examined by all of them were not found by the existence of the sign of the bird flu attack. Both from the inspection x-rayed and from results of the laboratory cheque.

http://www.riautoday.com/new/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=2917&Itemid=1

OK, so the Riau authorities are apparently sick and tired of being branded as hillbilly quacks by the Jakarta regime, which is playing host to Pelestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas.  Remember that the PA and the Israeli government speak at least once daily on the avian influenza situation, so I am sure Abbas has H5N1 on the agenda for discussion.  Perhaps the "nonaligned" PA is seeking prepandemic vaccine???  I would not be the least bit surprised. Here is the story, also translated by Dutchy, who also credits History Lover for the help:

Tuesday, October 23, 2007

Jakarta (Suara Karya): Health Minister Siti Fadilah Supari said that the resident of County Siak, Riau Province, initials GZ (10), that died at Siak, Provinsi Riau, RSUD Arifin Achmad, Pekanbaru Riau, Sunday (21/10), was positively infected with bird flu.

"Iya, positive. Continuing with the account, she said that the suspect died displaying previously with lungs and idea that pretty much the same and a large possibility as bird flu," said Menkes (Minister) following a national ceremony greeting President of Palestine Mahmoud Abbas, in Istana Merdeka, Jakarta, Monday.

Even so, Menkes (Minister) pushed Riau district as new bird flu cluster, because GZ's aunt have not taken blood sample.

"Not must, because her aunt have not taken blood sample. If it is positive with family relations, it should be a cluster," she said.

With the last sacrifice, Menkes (Minister) said that the total number of postive bird flu patients in Indonesia has reached 110 people and 89 positive for bird flu have died.

Gz died in the world in RSUD Arifin Achmad, Pekanbaru, after having been attended for a few hours in the medical center in isolation space. Captain of Bird Flu Handling Team at RSUD Arifin Achmad, Dr. Azizman Saad said that a new sacrifice was reconciled to the medical center with references to bird flu illness after it was known/detailed that she suffered from bird flu disease.

While the team from Riau Province Health Agency along with Siak County Health Agency did field investigations in the location where the presumed bird flu patient lived as died in world at RSUD Arifin Achmad Saturday (20/10).

"An investigation was done to determine the risk factors of the death of the avian influenza suspect patient," said Riau Kasubdis Health Diskes, Burhanudin Agung, to Between in Pekanbaru, Monday.

Burhanudin continued, the investigation needed to be done despite the fact that the suspect patient have not assigned as a positive bird flu patient.  http://www.suarakarya-online.com/news.html?category_name=Sehat

Incredible candor and a downright pre-WHO Margaret Chan-ish change of tune regarding the situation in Riau.  And now both the local government and the Riau authorities are falling back on a tried-and-true strategy:  When all else fails, blame the media!  From multiflusite poster Commonground's translation of a Riauinfo.com article,  http://www.riauinfo.com/main/news.php?c=6&id=2800 :

And now, today, in Riau, things are getting really, really testy.  Again, from Commonground:

Burhanuddin and Azizman confess/promise/claim to be more and more confused when news that same garnish/embellish screen of television in form of raining text amounting to television private. "A Cause/sign/commotion raining test aforementioned I more and more receive telephone all kinds side that wish to find out truth including from WHO," sigh Burhanuddin.  http://www.riauterkini.com/sosial.php?arr=16273 

The disclosure that seven (now eleven) children in the immediate neighborhood were tested for flu burung was picked up quickly by the local newspapers and television -- so quickly, in fact, that even the WHO got on the phone to know what in Sam Hill was going on down there!  This, in a way, partially assuages the concerns of Crawford Kilian (CROFS, H5N1) who recently and correctly lamented that there are no journalistic boots on the ground in Riau.  Apparently, the local media are picking up the gauntlet -- much to the consternation of the people trying to get work done down there.

As usual, stay tuned.