H5N1 Has Spread To 60 Countries, Territories In Four Years

30 Countries Reported Infections In Past Year

Since highly pathogenic H5N1 appeared in Asia in 2003, the spread of the avian influenza virus has been far-reaching, and devastating to the poultry industry :

* Since the virus re-emerged in Asia in 2003, outbreaks have been confirmed in around 60 countries and territories, according to data from the World Organisation for Animal Health.

* More than 30 countries have reported outbreaks in the past year, in most cases involving wild birds such as swans.

* The virus has killed at least 201 people since 2003, according to the WHO. Countries with confirmed human deaths are: Azerbaijan, Cambodia, China, Egypt, Indonesia, Iraq, Laos, Nigeria, Thailand, Turkey and Vietnam.

* In total, the virus is known to have infected 329 people since 2003, according to the WHO. Many of the dead are children and young adults.

* The WHO says that Vietnam and Indonesia have the highest number of cases, accounting for 132 of the total deaths.