Indonesia Confirms New Human Bird Flu Death

An Indonesian Health Ministry spokesman has confirmed that a woman, aged 19, from the West Java town of Garut, died in hospital last Friday as a result of H5N1 bird flu infection. This brings the total number of human deaths in Indonesia to 62, the highest in the world. This is the fifth human death in the country during the last two weeks - one in Garut, the other four in Jakarta.

It seems Indonesian authorities, long criticized for not doing enough to stem the spread of bird flu, are at last taking serious measures. A massive campaign is underway to eliminate backyard poultry in several provinces. In Jakarta, people have 14 days to get rid of their birds.

Accumulative Total Number of Confirmed Human Cases of Avian Influenza A/(H5N1)
Since the beginning of 2003

Azerbaijan
Cases 8 - Deaths 5

Cambodia
Cases 6 - Deaths 6

China
Cases 22 - Deaths 14

Djibouti
Cases 1 - Deaths 0

Egypt
Cases 18 - Deaths 10

Indonesia
Cases 80 - Deaths 62

Iraq
Cases 3 - Deaths 2

Thailand
Cases 25 - Deaths 17

Turkey
Cases 12 - Deaths 4

Viet Nam
Cases 93 - Deaths 42

Total
Cases 268 - Deaths 162

Written by: Christian Nordqvist
Editor: Medical News Today