Indonesia: 8-year-old girl died of bird flu

Photo: Indonesia: 8-year-old girl died of bird flu

The World Health Organization has yet to confirm the death, which would bring the country's official death toll from the H5N1 virus to 37.

The girl, from Pamulang on the outskirts of Jakarta, died late Thursday after apparently coming into contact with sick poultry, said Nyoman Kandun, a senior Health Ministry official, the AP reports.

The girl's 10-year-old brother died three days earlier with similar flu-like symptoms, but no samples were taken, said Dr. Hariadi Wibisono, a senior official at the national Health Department. The boy died in an emergency room before being treated, and the family immediately took him home for burial, he said.

"The family reported that chickens died near their house, and we have been told they had contact with birds," Wibisono said.

The children's father said he was aware of bird flu, but had no idea the virus was circulating near the family's house.