FACTBOX-WHO figures for bird flu cases in humans
Feb 21 (Reuters) - The World Health Organisation (WHO) confirmed on Thursday the death of a 27-year-old Vietnamese man from Ninh Nhat district in Ninh Binh province from the H5N1 strain of bird flu.
WHO also confirmed two deaths in Indonesia, one a 16-year-old male who died on Feb. 10 and a second, a 3-year-old boy who died on Feb. 15.
China also announced Thursday that a 41-year-old man died from the H5N1 bird flu virus, but this has not yet been confirmed by WHO on its website.
Of the 104 cases confirmed to date in Vietnam, 50 have been fatal. There have been 231 human deaths globally from the H5N1 strain and 365 confirmed cases of infection since 2003, according to WHO data.
Following is a list of confirmed human cases of H5N1. Total cases include survivors.
Deaths Total cases AZERBAIJAN 5 8 CAMBODIA 7 7 CHINA 18 28 DJIBOUTI 0 1 EGYPT 19 43 INDONESIA 105 129 IRAQ 2 3 LAOS 2 2 MYANMAR 0 1 NIGERIA 1 1 PAKISTAN 1 1 THAILAND 17 25 TURKEY 4 12 VIETNAM 50 104 ------------------------------------------------- TOTAL 231 365 -------------------------------------------------
The H5N1 virus remains mainly a virus of birds, but experts fear it could change into a form easily transmitted from person to person and sweep the world, killing millions.
So far, most human cases can be traced to direct or indirect contact with infected birds.
Initial tests usually take a day or two to confirm if someone has H5N1. More detailed testing by government laboratories or those affiliated with the WHO can take a week or more. (Writing by David Cutler and Keith Weir, London Editorial Reference Unit)
