6 July 2012 - The Ministry of Health of Indonesia has notified WHO of a new case of a human infection with avian influenza A(H5N1) virus.

The case is an 8 year-old female from the province of West Java. She developed fever on 18 June 2012 and then travelled on vacation the following day to Singapore, where she saw a private physician who diagnosed pharyngitis on 20 June. The case returned to Jakarta on 24 June and was still feeling unwell with coughing, decreased appetite and vomiting. Her family took her for treatment to the local hospital. Her condition deteriorated and she was transferred to intensive care, but died on 3 July. Infection with avian influenza A(H5N1) virus was confirmed by the National Institute of Health Research and Development (NIHRD), Ministry of Health.

Epidemiological investigation has been conducted in the case’s neighborhood and nearby market, which revealed that the case had contact with poultry when she went to a market with her father to buy live chickens. She was present when the chicken was culled in the designated part of the market.

The Ministry of Health in Singapore has been informed about the case under the International Health Regulations.

To date, the total number of human influenza A(H5N1) cases in Indonesia is now 190 with 158 fatalities.