Indonesia has reported its 12th human case of bird flu, and says it hopes to start producing the drug Tamiflu within months to fight the virus.
Health officials confirmed Saturday, that a 16-year-old boy has tested positive for the deadly H5N1 strain of bird flu. Seven avian flu cases in Indonesia have been fatal.
Tamiflu medicineThe Health Ministry says Indonesia hopes to start producing Tamiflu within five months to meet the country's needs in a possible pandemic.
Taiwan has also said it will produce Tamiflu on its own when stocks supplied by Swiss pharmaceutical company Roche run out. Taiwan's Intellectual Property Office said Friday it will request a license to produce the drug.
Roche expressed surprise at the announcement, saying Taiwan's local company could not produce the drug more rapidly or at a lower cost.
Some information for this report provided by AP and Reuters.
