Indonesia's 41st AI death confirmed

Tests have confirmed that a 3-year-old Indonesian died from the avian influenza virus on July 6, bringing the country's AI death toll to 41.

According to the Indonesian ministry for health, she had been in contact with infected poultry.

A World Health Organisation affiliated laboratory in Atlanta confirmed the toddler had the H5N1 bird flu virus that has killed at least 131 people worldwide.

Indonesia is logging new human cases faster than any other country and trails only Vietnam, where 42 people have died.

The Indonesian government has come under fire for not routinely culling fowl in infected areas, which is seen as the best way to stop the H5N1 virus from spreading. It says it cannot afford to compensate farmers across the sprawling archipelago.

Editor WorldPoultry