H5N1 cases reported in Indonesia, Bangladesh

Two people died of H5N1 avian influenza in Indonesia in the past few weeks, the World Health Organization (WHO) said today, while news reports from Bangladesh cited that country’s first human H5N1 case this year. The Indonesian victims were a 2-year-old boy and a 31-year-old woman, who both had exposure to poultry, the WHO said, citing the Indonesian Ministry of Health as its information source. The boy was from Depok in West Java province and fell ill on Feb 3, the WHO said. He was admitted to a private clinic on Feb 5, was hospitalized Feb 6, and died the same day. Sick and dead poultry were reported in his neighborhood before he got sick, the statement said. The 31-year-old woman was from Bekasi, West Java, the WHO reported. She was admitted to a private clinic on Feb 25, 2 days after her illness began, and was hospitalized Feb 28. Despite receiving oseltamivir (Tamiflu)...