Indonesian local news on bird flu

Two articles in local Indonesian news sources are of interest. They illustrate the difficulty of trying to figure out what is happening using local news reports. Both relate to the hospitalization of a reporter for the Indonesian magazine Tempo who had covered the culling of poultry and the funeral of a bird flu victim. I have had both articles translated by a native speaker, since previous translations were via machine (see, for example, here). The machine translations are much more difficult to read but the essential elements of the reports are discernible. Since we have more idiomatic translations, we present them here as a service and an illustration for readers who don't follow this closely what these reports are like.

Liputan6.com, Bandung:

Tempo reporter Rambat Eko Setiabudi has been admitted to Hasan Sadikin hospital with suspicion he might have bird flu. Rambat, who was on duty in Tasikmalaya, West Java was brought into the hospital on Wednesday (14/6) around 11PM, complaining of high fever and difficulties breathing. His temperature was 39 degrees Celsius. After examination, the doctor admitted Rambat to the isolation ward.

Rambat's high fever and breathing difficulties began Saturday afternoon and visited the doctor. The symptoms persisted and he was brought into the hospital.

Two weeks ago, Rambat covered a funeral of a bird flu victim and another on the culling of poultry.

To check his condition, blood was drawn to be sent to the Center in Jakarta. The result will be in within 5 or 6 days.

TEMPO Interaktif, Jakarta:

A Tempo reporter, R (age 28), based in Tasikmalaya, West Java, was placed in an isolation room after being admitted to Hasan Sadikin hospital, Wednesday (14/6) around midnight. He had been sent to a local hospital by a physician in Tasikmalaya.

R gave a history of having fever (up to 39 degrees C) since Sunday 11/6. He became worried Wednesday when his fever did not come down and he had difficulties breathing. Some days earlier he covered the culling of poultry and went to a funeral of a bird flu victim.

The specialist from the local hospital sent the patient to Hasan Sadikin hospital, "because the Tasikmalaya hospital does not have isolation room," accordingly to Undang Sudrajat, his uncle.

The head of the Isolation Ward at the Hasan Sadikin hospital, Adang Rasmita, said R is still weak, but improving. His temperature dropped to 37 - 37.5 C. and he no longer has difficulties breathing. However, the hospital is still monitoring his heart, pulse and oxygen level. "It is important that we monitor the oxygen level, because ina bird flu patient, this can drop suddenly", Adang said.

Dengue fever is another possibility for his illness, accoring to Adang. The patient will be kept in the isolation room until next week.