CONDITION OF THREE SWINE FLU SUSPECTS IN MANADO IMPROVING

Manado, North Sulawesi, July 10 (ANTARA) - The condition of three people suspected of being infected with swine flu here on Friday is showing improvement, a public health official said.

"Their condition is improving, but they are still isolated in order to prevent the virus from spreading to other people in their immediate surroundings," Maxi Rondonuwu, head of the North Sulawesi provincial health office, said here on Friday.

The three patients were identified by their initials as RR, ET, and MT.

Besides, they are still waiting for the results of laboratory tests of their blood samples.

"Their status is still suspect, but all medical treatment procedures have been applied on them," Rondonuwu said.

Only close relatives are allowed to visit the three patients.

Meanwhile, another patient who came to the hospital on Thursday, was not in very serious condition.

"The government has taken several steps to anticipate the spread of the contagious disease. We call on all North Sulawesi residents to take care of their health by consuming nutritious food and taking enough rest," he said.

Frans Walangitan, a local legislator, urged the local administration to take immediate measures to prevent the influenza A virus from spreading.

"The most important thing is how to cut its spreading cycles, because Manado is a small town, so the three patients should not infect others," Walangitan said.

The number of influenza A (H1N1) or swine flu cases in Indonesia increased by 24 recently bringing the total number of sufferers in the country to 52, a minister said.

"Of the 24 new cases, three involve foreigners, and the rest Indonesian nationals," Health Minister Siti Fadilah Supari said in Jakarta on Thursday.

The patients were being treated at Hasan Sadikin Hospital in Bandung (2), Sulianti Saroso Hospital in Jakarta (12), Sanglah General Hospital in Denpasar (1), Gatot Subroto Army Hospital in Jakarta (2), private Siloam Hospital in Jakarta (2), Adam Malik Hospital in Medan (3), and Kanujoso Djati Hospital in Balikpapan (2), the minister said.