Human Death Toll from Bird Flu Tops 100

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Recreated influenza virions from the 1918 flu that killed an estimated 50 million people. (Image credit: CDC/Terrence Tumpey)

The number of humans confirmed killed by the bird flu strain called H5N1 topped 100 today, according to the World Health Organization (WHO).

The organization reported five deaths in Azerbaijan. The most deaths, 42, have occurred in Vietnam followed by 22 in Indonesia. [Table]

Most of the human cases have involved people who've directly handled infected birds. It is not yet clear if that's the case in Azerbaijan.

"Interviews with surviving family members have failed to uncover a history of direct exposure to dead or diseased poultry for several of the cases," a WHO statement read. The investigation is ongoing.

Officials worry, however, that the H5N1 strain could morph into a variety that would spread among humans, leading to a global pandemic.

Cases of the H5N1 avian flu virus in humans and the deaths that have resulted, as of March 21, 2006:

Swipe to scroll horizontally
Country2003200420052006Total
CasesDeathsCasesDeathsCasesDeathsCasesDeathsCasesDeaths
Azerbaijan0000007575
Cambodia0000440044
China000085751510
Indonesia0000171112112922
Iraq0000002222
Thailand00171252002214
Turkey000000124124
Vietnam3329206119009342
Total33463295414027184103

SOURCE: WHO

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Live Science Staff
Live Science Staff
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