Asia-Pacific

42nd Indonesia bird flu human death confirmed

(Reuters)
Updated: 2006-07-20 13:43

An international test has confirmed a 44-year-old Indonesian man who died this month had bird flu, a senior health ministry official said on Thursday.

A chicken trader waits for customers at the local market in central Jakarta July 16, 2006. A 44-year-old Indonesian who died four days ago has tested positive for bird flu, a senior Health Ministry official said on Sunday, citing a local test. [Reuters]

That takes the total confirmed bird flu deaths in Indonesia to 42, to tie with Vietnam as the country with most human victims from the H5N1 avian flu strain.

Vietnam's 42nd bird flu death occurred in 2005. Indonesia has had more deaths this year than any other country.