Thai man dies of bird flu, official says
By Susan Cornwell
The Star, 26 Sept 2006

BANGKOK (Reuters) - A 59-year-old Thai man has died of bird flu, the country's 17th victim of the H5N1 virus since it swept through much of Asia in late 2003, a senior Health Ministry official said. 

The man died on Aug. 10 in a northeastern province near the Lao border after chickens at his house fell sick and died, Kamnuan Ungchusak told Reuters. 

He said the final laboratory tests were completed last week. 

The man was Thailand's third victim this year. Its previous death from H5N1 was confirmed on Aug. 5. 

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), 146 of the 249 people confirmed as infected with H5N1 bird flu have died since 2003. 

Those infected have come from countries ranging from China to Iraq to Djibouti. Indonesia, with 51 deaths, has been the hardest hit. 

Initial testing usually takes a day or two to confirm if someone has H5N1. However, more detailed analysis by government laboratories or those affiliated with the WHO can take a week or more. 

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 within weeks or months. So far, most human cases can be traced to direct or indirect contact with infected birds.