March 9 (Reuters) - A 15-year-old Lao girl died from bird flu, the country's first confirmed death from the H5N1 virus, the Health Ministry said as it stepped up surveillance and public awareness efforts. Worldwide, the virus has killed 168 people since 2003, according to the U.N.'s World Health Organisation.

At least 200 million birds have died or been culled.

Following is a list of confirmed human cases of H5N1 from the WHO in Geneva. Total cases include survivors.

Deaths Total cases AZERBAIJAN 5 8 CAMBODIA 6 6 CHINA 14 23 DJIBOUTI 0 1 EGYPT 13 23 INDONESIA 63 81 IRAQ 2 3 LAOS 1 1 NIGERIA 1 1 THAILAND 17 25 TURKEY 4 12 VIETNAM 42 93 ------------------------------------------------- TOTAL 168 277 -------------------------------------------------

Initial tests usually take a day or two to confirm if someone has H5N1. More detailed testing by government laboratories or those affiliated with the WHO can take a week or more.

The H5N1 virus remains mainly a virus of birds, but experts fear it could change into a form easily transmitted from person to person and sweep the world, killing millions within weeks or months.

So far, most human cases can be traced to direct or indirect contact with infected birds.

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