Sometimes, when it comes to Jakarta, it is useful to remember that the city was once Batavia. Abayasekere in Jakarta: A History writes: “…visitors to Batavia in the second half of the eighteenth century were astounded at the way in which the inhabitants had hardened themselves to the death of their acquaintances…”. She also notes Cook’s famous remark that, “The unwholesome air of Batavia is the death of more Europeans than any other place upon the globe…”. This period of Batavia actually marks a time when the health conditions of the walled city the Dutch had themselves couped up in became so intolarable that they moved the town up the Ciliwung a bit. There they would build the “Queen of the East“.
A quick search at Reuters of ”Jakarta bird flu” will return a series of dated reports numbering, currently, 354. It is of interest to read down the list of report titles …> go to site
The AFP reports:
Indonesia confirms 115th human bird flu infection
JAKARTA (AFP) — A 47-year-old Indonesian man has been confirmed as the 115th bird flu case in the nation worst hit by the virus, the health ministry said Wednesday.
The man is being treated in a Jakarta hospital for the disease, which has claimed 92 lives in Indonesia.
Two laboratory tests on the man showed that he was infected with the highly pathogenic virus, a statement from the ministry’s bird flu centre said.
Two positive results of tests on blood and tissue samples are needed before Indonesian authorities can confirm a human bird flu infection.
The man, who is from the Jakarta satellite city of Tangerang, was first admitted to a private hospital there on December 5, three days after he began to feel ill. He was referred to the Jakarta hospital on December 10.
Four bird flu deaths have been reported in Tangerang since October, including Indonesia’s latest death on Monday
