China and India reported new human deaths from the deadly H5N1 strain of the avian flu on Friday, as authorities in Azerbaijan and Nigeria moved to contain newly reported cases among birds.

China's Health Ministry said a 20-year-old woman from the central Hunan province died from bird flu last week.

Indonesian officials also reported that a woman has died from bird flu. They said a second woman suspected of having the virus is in critical condition at a Jakarta hospital.

Dead wild swan lies on Caspian Sea shore near village of Sahil, 35 km south of Baku, Feb. 10, 2006

Azerbaijan on Friday became the latest country to report an outbreak of the virus among waterfowl. Health officials said lab tests revealed the deadly H5N1 strain among wild birds found dead near the Caspian Sea.

The first cases in Africa were detected earlier this week on poultry farms in Nigeria. Foreign governments and aid organization have promised to help Nigeria contain the virus, which has killed nearly 90 people worldwide since 2003.

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