Research and Development Agency of Department of Health reported on Saturday (23/8) that 57 additional people were infected with positive flu A-H1N1 and one of them died. He is a 21 year old man from West Java who died of severe respiratory problems and the laboratory result showed that he was H1N1 positive. Hence cumulatively positive influenza A H1N1 cases amounted to 1,005 people spreading in 24 provinces, said Prof. dr. Tjandra Yoga Aditama, Sp.P (K), MARS, the Director General of Disease Control and Environmental Health of the Department of Health.

Prof. Tjandra explained, flu A H1N1 disease is spread by direct contact from human to human through coughs, sneezes or things ever touched by the carriers, as the spread is very quick but can be prevented.

Effective ways of preventing the disease is by maintaining healthy and fresh body by eating balanced nutritious food, doing physical activities/ exercising, having enough rest and washing hands with soaps. Moreover, if you cough and sneeze, cover nose with handkerchief or tissue. If there are influenza symptoms, take medicine to lower body temperature, wear surgery masks, and not going to work/ school/ public places and taking rest at home for 5 days, and seek for medical help if no improvements shown within 2, said Prof. Tjandra.

The Government of Indonesia has conducted preparedness action on handling the virus, such as instructing Port Health Office to optimize health scanner and compulsory Health Alert Card submission for travelers, preparing Hospitals and logistics and strengthening contact tracking, ILI surveillance and laboratories. Government is also strengthening public communication and education on the diseases and complying with International Health Regulations.

In addition to that, community surveillance is conducted, person with influenza symptoms should promptly report to Public Health Centers, while people with severe symptoms should go directly to Hospital. Severe Acute Respiratory Infection (SARI) surveillance is also strengthened at Public Health Centers and Hospitals to identify serious cases, while low level cases needs no medical treatment at the hospitals, said Prof. Tjandra.

This information is issued by Center for Public Communication, Secretariat General Department of Health Republic Indonesia. For queries, please call: 021-52907416-9 and 52921669, or send e-mail to: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .