World bird flu death toll at 148

Sept 28 (Reuters) - A 20-year-old Indonesian man has died from H5N1 bird flu, the World Health Organisation said on Thursday, citing Indonesia's Health Ministry.

Of the 68 cases confirmed to date in Indonesia, 52 have been fatal.

The virus has killed 148 people since 2003, according to the WHO. Some 200 million birds have died or been culled.

Following is a list of confirmed human cases of H5N1 from the WHO in Geneva. Total cases include survivors.

            Deaths Total      cases

AZERBAIJAN       5              8

CAMBODIA         6              6

CHINA            14             21

DJIBOUTI         0              1

EGYPT            6              14

INDONESIA        52             68

IRAQ             2              3

THAILAND         17             25

TURKEY           4              12

VIETNAM          42             93

TOTAL            148            251

Initial testing usually takes a day or two to confirm if someone has H5N1. More detailed testing 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.