Indonesian Health Ministry confirmed here Sunday that an 11-year-old boy, who died Saturday evening, was positively infected by avian influenza, bringing the total death from the disease to 53 out of 71 cases in the country.

Joko Susilo, an official in charge at the anti-bird-flu center here, told Xinhua that the boy, from South Jakarta, capital city of Indonesia, had contacted with fowls.

"He is positively infected," Joko said.

The total deaths from the highly pathogenic H5N1 virus in Indonesia have surpassed Vietnam, making the country the world's most hard hit by the virus.

Experts fear that the virus could mutate into a certain level that can make it transmittable among humans.

The huge territory, back yard centered farming and relatively lack budget have hampered the authorities in the country from fighting the avian influenza.

Source: Xinhua