Nigeria bird flu death confirmed

Nigeria says it is taking steps to prevent further spread

Nigeria's first human fatality from bird flu has been confirmed by the World Health Organisation.

Tests in London confirmed that a 22-year-old woman who died on 17 January was infected with the deadly H5N1 strain.

Nigeria reported several human cases last Wednesday and says measures are being taken to prevent a further spread among humans.

More than 160 people are now known to have died of bird flu worldwide.

Almost all have been poultry workers who have come into close contact with birds. H5N1 cannot pass easily from human to human.

Nigeria reported Africa's first cases of H5N1 about a year ago.

Other cases have been reported in Egypt and Djibouti, which have suffered human deaths, and also in Cameroon, Djibouti, Niger, Ivory Coast, Sudan and Burkina Faso.