Indonesia recorded a 14-year-old girl, who died in June in South Sualwesi
province, positive with avian influenza, Health Minister Siti Padila Supari
said in Jakarta yesterday.
She said that the girl had a history of contact with fowls. Authorities found
many chickens around the girl residence had died.
The local test now indicated she was "positive," said the minister.
"She had contacts with chickens," said Supari.
The test result brought the total deaths of avian influenza in Indonesia to
48 out of 63 contracted people, she said.
The total deaths from the highly pathogenic H5N1 in Indonesia has surpassed
Vietnam, the country hit hardest by the bird flu.
Experts said they fear that the virus could mutate to a certain level that
can make it transmittable among humans.
