Bird flu death toll in Indonesia now 56 with one more sick

The death of a 2-year-old boy from bird flu has taken the death toll in Indonesia to 56.

According to Indonesia's Bird Flu Information Center the youngster died on Monday morning after being admitted to hospital on Sunday.

The boy from the Karawang district had apparently been in contact with fowl.

The Indonesian Health Ministry has also reported that a 35-year-old woman also is also being treated in hospital for the deadly virus, but according to reports she is from a different town and had not been in contact with the little boy.

These two latest cases, both from towns on the outskirts of the capital Jakarta, have brought the number of confirmed bird flu cases in the country to 74 since 2004, more than any other country.

Almost all of those who have died had been in contact with sick birds, usually domestic fowl.

The World Health Organisation fears the virus could mutate into a form that easily spreads among humans, sparking a pandemic with the potential to kill millions.