Indonesian Man Dies Of Bird Flu; Death Toll Stands at 74

Indonesia's Health Ministry says a 29-year-old man has died of bird flu, the latest victim in the country hardest-hit by the virus.

The ministry said Saturday that the human death toll from the virus now stands at 74. However, World Health Organization officials have only recorded 63 deaths.

Indonesia only recently agreed to resume sharing its bird flu samples with the WHO, ending a four-month dispute. Indonesia had refused to share the samples until the health organization guaranteed they would not be used to make expensive commercial vaccines.

Indonesia has more bird flu deaths than any other nation. WHO officials say 171 people have died from the virus worldwide since the outbreak began in 2003, mostly in Asian countries.

Some information for this report was provided by AP and Reuters.