JAKARTA, INDONESIA: Eleven people from the Air Batu village in Air Batu subdistrict were taken to Asahan's regency Abdul Manan hospital in North Sumatra, Indonesia early Wednesday (6 Aug) after showing symptoms of avian influenza, more commonly known as bird flu.

Two patients were later admitted to Medan's Adam Malik Hospital for further treatment, while the other 11 were still undergoing treatment at Abdul Manan hospital.

"Two patients from Abdul Manan hospital, a seven-year-old girl and an eight-month-old baby boy, arrived here at 2 am," Adam Malik Hospital spokesperson Sinar Ginting told Kompas.com on Wednesday.

Sinar said the two patients were in a "critical" condition, with a high fever, serious respiratory problems and a cough.

The two patients, he said, had no history of direct contact with chickens but a week earlier chickens around their neighbourhood had died suddenly.

"Officials from the local health agency have examined the chickens and found they were positively infected with H5N1 virus," Ginting said.

Ginting said a team of doctors led by Dr Luhur Soeroso had provided all appropriate treatment to the patients, who are being held for further tests even though they are only suspected of having the disease. (The Jakarta Post/ ANN)