ID :
69799
Fri, 07/10/2009 - 15:55
Auther :

US NATIONAL IN BALIKPAPAN CONFIRMED AS SWINE FLU SUFFERER



Samarinda, East Kalimantan, July 10 (ANTARA) - The result of A Jakarta health development and research laboratory's test has confirmed that a US national identified by his initials as RH (26) is suffering from Influenza A (H1N1) or swine flu.

"Although he is infected with the H1N1 virus, RH's condition has improved. We have even taken him off intravenous feeding since this noon," president director of Kanujoso Regional General Hospital M Syafak Hanung said in Balikpapan on Thursday evening.

RH was sent to Balikpapan's hospital on July 6 (Monday) and his temperature was no longer high on July 8, Hanung said. RH was no longer coughing or having flu as his health condition was improving, he said.

The foreigner had a keen desire to learn the Indonesian language and was documenting his experiences by taking pictures in the hospital, he said.

RH arrived at Sepinggan airport in Balikpapan on July 2 with a normal body temperature.

A day later, he developed a cough, flu and his temperature rose to 38 degrees Celsius . The next day, he went to Kasih Ibu Hospital in Balikpapan to get his influenza treated.

The Kasih Ibu Hospital, however, referred him to the Kanujoso Regional General Hospital on suspicion he had contracted swine flu.

Yurnanto, head of the East Kalimantan provincial health service's disease control unit, said his office had taken preventive measures by sterilizing the hotel where RH had stayed in Balikpapan.

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.

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