Three residents in the Indonesian province of Central Sulawesi were admitted to hospital Friday for allegedly developing bird flu symptoms.

Two toddlers aged 2 and 1.5 and a 21-year-old housewife got treatment at the Undata Hospital in the provincial capital of Palu due to high fever and respiratory problems.

They live in Kamonji district where authorities recently found dozens of chickens killed by the avian influenza, reported the national Antara news agency.

Earlier in the day, health officials in Palu began to cull hundreds of chickens to prevent an outbreak, reported evening newspaper Sinar Harapan.

At least five residents in Palu have been hospitalized for developing bird flu symptoms.

Indonesia has the highest bird flu death toll of 47, of which the World Health organization has confirmed 44.

Source: Xinhua