On Tuesday, January 10th, Indonesia’s health ministry announced that a 24-year old Indonesian man infected with the virus H5N1 died in Jakarta on January 7th. The man probably contracted the H5N1 avian influenza from birds living near his house.
Indonesia is the hardest-hit by the H5N1 virus. According to the World Health Organization (WHO) 150 deaths have been reported nationwide between 2003 and 2011. Last year, nine Indonesians died from the disease, including two children in Bali. Symptoms of human infection by the H5N1 virus are high fever (typically over 38°C) and flu-like symptoms including fever, chills, headaches, nausea, etc. Patients may experience coughing, shortness of breath and pulmonary infiltrates.
Even if the risk of human infection is low, avoid contact with birds (poultry or wild bird market) and do not eat raw or undercook bird products (eggs and meat). The risk is greater for those having direct and close contact with poultry. If you develop the symptoms, contact immediately a doctor.
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