Indonesia reports 163rd death from H1N1 virus

An Indonesian woman living near the capital Jakarta has died of bird flu, the health ministry said, the latest death from H5N1 in the country hardest hit by the virus.

The 31-year-old housewife from Bekasi in West Java province is the 163rd fatality from the virus in Southeast Asia's biggest nation, the ministry said in a statement seen Monday.

She came down with a fever last week and the bird flu virus was diagnosed but she died before medics could get her to a hospital for specialised treatment, it said.

Officials suspect she contracted the virus either from a pet bird in her house or from coming into contact with poultry in her neighbourhood, it added in a statement.

Indonesia has recorded 195 cases of bird flu, according to ministry figures.

[Image via Agence France-Presse]