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Although the incidence of human H5N1 infection has been low (385 cases reported worldwide by June 19, 2008), the high mortality rate of this illness has aroused great global concern. Indonesia has had the most cases and one of the highest case-fatality rates. What factors are associated with death in such patients?
To find out, researchers in Jakarta investigated 127 cases of confirmed H5N1 infection in Indonesia with onset between June 22, 2005, and February 1, 2008. One hundred and three (81%) of the patients died, with the case-fatality rate increasing from 65% in 2005 to 87% in 2007 (P=0.05). Early receipt of oseltamivir was significantly associated with survival. Patients who started therapy ≤2 days after symptom onset had a higher surv…