SUSPECTED BIRD FLU SUFFERER DIES IN SEMARANG HOSPITAL

Semarang, Indonesia, Nov 7 (ANTARA) - A suspected female bird flu sufferer identified by her initials as DS (15) died at the Kariadi General Hospital here on Friday morning.
"DS was admitted to the hospital a few days ago on suspicion she had bird flu but she eventually died at 05:00 Friday morning," a Kariadi General Hospital spokesman, Dr Agus Suryanto, said.
Suryanto said, in accordance with existing rules at the hospital, DS's case was reported to the health ministry's Semarang office.
"We have sent the victim's body to the Medoho-III mortuary in Semarang," he said, adding that the victim was admitted to Kariadi General Hospital on Tuesday, Nov 4, 2008, after being treated at a private hospital for several days.
Suryanto said DS had had direct contact with poultry before she fell ill.
"When she arrived at the hospital last Tuesday, her body temperature was recorded at 39 degrees Celsius and she was suffering from a respiratory problem," he said.
He added DS was treated at the hospital's intensive care unit (ICU).
The hospital's medical team had taken blood samples from the patient and tested them with avian influenza instruments but the results were inconclusive.
DS was the first suspected bird-flu case handled by Kariadi General Hospital this year.