ANOTHER BIRD FLU SUSPECT DIES IN PEKANBARU

Pekanbaru, Riau Province, April 23 (ANTARA) - Another bird flu (avian influenza) suspect identified as Solihin (32) has died after receiving medical treatment at Pekanbaru's Arifin Achmad General Hospital.

Dr Azizman Saad, coordinator of the hospital's bird flu control unit, said here on Thursday the patient was pronounced dead at 11.30 p.m. local time on Wednesday.

Solihin's body was taken to his home in Teluk Meranti sub district, Pelalawan district
"The patient died after suddenly suffering from a serious respiratory problem," he said.
Solihan had been put in a bird flu isolation room for intensive medical care at the hospital for four days. He had been earlier treated at Teluk Meranti community health center for high fever and a respiratory problem.

The patient's condition reportedly improved earlier with his temperature reaching around 37 C degrees, but his pulse speed was 40 times per minute from the normal 20 times, Dr Azizman Saad said.

"His death is really beyond the prediction of the doctors' team. And when he was in critical condition, he was only accompanied by an on-duty doctor," he said.

Meanwhile, Mursal Amir, head of the Riau provincial health service said Solihin's death could not be confirmed as the hospital was still waiting for the result of laboratory test of the patient's blood sample from Jakarta.

Last March 2009, Wahyu Ibnu Saputra, a two-year old boy, died of bird flu at Arifin Achmad Public Hospital here.

Wahyu died after suffering a respiratory problem and falling unconscious, Dr Azizman Saad on March 26.

The patient's life could not be saved although six doctors had tried to help him maximally, he said.

The boy died at around 2 a.m. local time on Thursday.

The patient's condition reportedly improved a day earlier with his temperature reaching around 36 C degrees and pulse speed of 40 times per minute, dr Azizman Saad said.

Wahyu's death, was later confirmed because of H5N1 (bird flu) virus according to the result of laboratory test of the patient's blood sample.