The 20-year-old victim had contacts with sick chickens, said Indonesian Health Ministry official Nyoman Kandun.

Two of the woman's neighbours were also hospitalised with symptoms of the disease.

According to the latest analysis from the World Health Organization (WHO), ninety percent of people infected with bird flu have been under the age of 40, and 60 percent of them have died.

WHO researchers said their analysis did not suggest why this might be and there are several theories on why the H5N1 virus seems to attack younger people.

The H5N1 avian influenza virus has infected 272 people in 10 countries since it re-emerged in 2003, causing 166 dead. There are fears that it could mutate into a form more like seasonal flu, in which case it would be spread around the world by people and could kill millions.

WHO scientists will organize a meeting in Turkey next month to talk about issues relating to the fatal disease.

VNA/Reuters