The death toll of bird flu in Indonesian hit 80 after a young man"e;s death recently, an Indonesian official confirmed in Jakarta Thursday.

"With the laboratory tests showing that he was positively infected by avian influenza, the death toll of bird flu in Indonesia rose to 80," said Bayu Krisnamur, chairman of the Indonesian national commission of bird flu control and pandemic preparation.

The 28-year-old man, Yatino, died on June 12 after being treated at a hospital in Indonesia"e;s Riau province with bird flu symptoms for six days, said Roenizar Roesin, head of the of anti- bird flu center affiliated to the Health Ministry.

Yatino, a plantation worker and father of one child, had a history of contact with fowls, and had also eaten meat of sick chickens at his home in Indragiri Hulu regency.

Indonesia is among countries in the world facing the biggest difficulties in fighting deadly bird flu. Experts fear that millions of people could be killed if the virus mutate to a certain level that is transmittable among humans.

Source: Xinhua