Indonesia: Bird flu may have transmitted human-to-human

Indonesian officials said they are investigating what may be the first case of human-to-human transmision of avian flu.

"We cannot confirm that has occurred but we cannot rule it out," I Nyoman Kandun of the health ministry said Monday.


State hosptial staff examine a man infected with avian flu in Medan, Sumatra. AFP file photo from Yahoo News.

Kandun said that there was no indication the virus had mutated so the disease is probably not anymore contagious among humans than before.

Indonesia has more bird flu deaths than any other country this year and trails only Vietnam in total fatalities.