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Health Minister Warns Citizens of New H5N1 Bird Flu Threat

  • Posted Feb 24, 2023 14:40 by Hun Sirivadh
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PHNOM PENH: The Minister of Health, Mam Bun Heng, has reminded citizens about the renewed threat of bird flu in Cambodia, after new cases are detected in the country.

In a press release issued on Thursday, 23 February 2023, Health Minister, Mam Bunheng, advised people to wash their hands frequently with soap and clean water before and after eating, and especially after having any contact with poultry. He further urged citizens to stay away from birds and to try and separate birds away from people as much as possible. This also includes not eating and avoiding contact with sick or dead birds, and cooking all poultry well to ensure that it is safe for consumption.

The Minister especially urged all citizens to immediately report to the health authorities or the Ministry of Health in case of a suspected case or exposure, and to seek immediate medical attention if needed.

"The H5N1 bird flu virus continues to pose a threat to the health of the Cambodian people and is more prevalent among children in high-risk groups," he said.

Cambodia reported a new case of bird flu on Wednesday, 22 February, in Sithor Kandal district of Prey Veng province, when an 11-year-old girl tested positive for the virus. The child first fell sick with symptoms on 16 February, and her condition continued to deteriorate until she passed away on Wednesday.

The Ministry collected samples from 11 other people who had been in contact with the girl, and have now confirmed that the girl’s 49-year-old father has also tested positive for H5N1 bird flu.

These are the first two human transmission cases of bird flu in Cambodia recorded in nine years. The 49-year-old father marks the 58th case recorded in Cambodian history, since the first outbreak of bird flu in 2005. Among all recorded cases, 45 were children under the age of 13, 31 were women, and only 19 have survived.

The Ministry of Health's emergency response team is continuing to investigate the current bird flu outbreak in line with the national procedures in place. A coordinated emergency response team, including both doctors and veterinarians, have been deployed to search for sources of transmission in both people and animals. The team will continue to search for suspected cases and affected people to prevent further transmission to others in the community, and will also conduct health education campaigns in villages where cases have been identified.

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