Jakarta, Indonesia ? The Indonesian Ministry of Health confirmed Thursday the country’s 42nd human death from avian influenza, putting the nation on par with Vietnam for having the highest number of deaths from the virus.

The latest victim, a 44-year-old man from East Jakarta, died July 12, the World Health Organization said. The man probably was infected from poultry around his home or the market where he worked at a food stall, the WHO said.

So far, the strain of bird flu known as H5N1 has remained primarily an animal disease. Since 2003, it has spread from its epicenter in Southeast Asia to the Middle East, Europe and Africa.

World health officials are worried the virus could mutate into a form that spreads easily among people. Since 2003, the WHO has recorded 231 human cases and 133 deaths.