Indonesia on alert over bird flu

THE WHO has indicated that the increasing number of people in Indonesia showing bird flu-like symptoms, did not mean that the outbreak is becoming worse. Indonesia has been placed on “extraordinary” alert. There have been four confirmed deaths as a result of the bird flu virus and another three are awaiting confirmation. Indonesian authorities have also been given the right to order people showing symptoms of the disease into hospitals. The WHO has warned that the virus is continuing to develop and the possibility of human-to-human transmission remains a real threat. (Sue Lewitton)