THREE US SWINE-FLU SUSPECTS ADMITTED TO SAMPIT HOSPITAL

Sampit, C Kalimantan, July 27 (ANTARA) - Dr Murjani Sampit General Hospital in East Kotawaringin district, Central Kalimantan, is now treating three United States citizens suspected of suffering from type-A Influenza (H1N1) or swine flu, a hospital spokesperson said.

"Last night, at about 10.00 pm, the three swine-flu suspects arrived here from the Sultan Imanudin hospital in Pangkalan Bun, West Kotawaringin district," Ratna Yuniarti, director of Dr Murjani Sampit General Hospital said here on Monday.

The three suspects, identified by their initials as D, A and M are US citizens from Kansas, the hospital director said, adding they were volunteer workers at the Tanjung Puting National Park (TNTP) in West Kotawaringin district.

"Based on the results of tests on samples of their blood, the three patients were positively infected with the H1N1 or swine flu virus and they currently being treated in isolated rooms," Yuniarti said.

Before arriving in Indonesia, the three US nationals spent a few hours in South Korea whereas their own country is one of the world's H1N1 virus endemic areas.

"Dr Murjani Sampit Gneral Hospital's task is only to treat them while samples of their body fluids will be sent the Health Ministry's laboratory in Jakarta for confirmation of their infection," she said.

Dr Murjani Sampit General Hospital was ready to treat the swine flu patient suspects after making preparations, Ratna Yuniarti said, explaining that the hospital was one of the health service centers which treat H1N1 flu suspects along with Dr Doris Sylvanus Palangka Raya hospital.

The US citizens were the first swine flu suspects the Murjani Sampit General Hospital had received so far, Yuniarti added.

Reports said that until Friday (July 24), the national number of infection cases so far had reached 343 consisting of 193 men and 150 women.

The health ministry said in its press statement received in Jakarta on Friday the new cases were found in Jakarta, West Java, Banten, Riau Islands, Bali, Yogyakarta, North Sumatra, East Java, East Kalimantan and South Kalimantan. ***3***