Indonesia bird flu endemic increases

The Indonesian health ministry has announced a child has tested positive for bird flu and two more people have died from the disease.

It brings the total number of human cases to 132 and the death toll to 107 in the country which is the hardest hit by the HN51 virus.

Lily Sulistyowati, the health ministry spokeswoman, said the 22-month-old child fell sick on March 19th and told Reuter's: "Her condition is improving, and she is being treated at a Padang hospital."

The disease is an endemic amongst the bird population in most of Indonesia and the most common way of contracting Hn51 is through contact with the sick birds.

Health officials fear the disease could mutate to a human strain which could be passed between people and cause a pandemic.

Figures from the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organisation show that bird flu has infected 31 out of 33 provinces in Indonesia.