The WHO (World Health Organization) has confirmed that four people have died of bird flu in Vietnam since June.

100 cases are confirmed to date in Vietnam, 46 have been fatal. At global level, out of 327 known cases, the virus killed 199 people since it re-appeared in Hong Kong in 2003.

Millions of birds have died or have been culled. Following is a list of confirmed human cases of H5N1.

Total cases include survivors. Total Deaths cases –

Azerbaijan 5 8, Cambodia 7 7, China 16 25, Djibouti 0 1, Egypt 15 38, Indonesia 84 105, Iraq 2 3, Laos2 2, Nigeria 1 1, Thailand 17 25, Turkey 4 12, Vietnam 46 100, ------ TOTAL 199 327

For confirming if someone has H5N1, the initial tests take a day or two. More elaborate testing can take a week or more.

The H5N1 virus is mainly a virus of birds, but experts concern it could change into a form easily transmitted from person to person and can kill millions.