PHNOM PENH: The Ministry of Health has issued another public health alert after a woman in Kampot Province tested positive for the H5N1bird flu virus this week.

A statement from the Ministry of Health on November 24 stated that another case of bird flu was reported by the National Institute of Public Health and the Institut Pasteur du Cambodge on November 23, after a 21-year-old woman from Kampot’s Trapeang Russey Village tested positive for the virus.

According to inquiries, a series of chicken deaths plagued the village and the woman’s home last week. The patient became ill on November 19, followed by respiratory symptoms including fever, shortness of breath and cough, and was rushed to the Khmer-Soviet Friendship Hospital on November 23. The patient is currently in intensive care with a team of doctors on the case.

The night she was brought into the hospital, the National and Regional Emergency Response Team of the Ministry of Health joined with the Ministries of Agriculture and Environment to investigate the case and search for sources of transmission in both animals and humans. They continue to search for suspected cases and exposure to prevent transmission to others in the community. Meanwhil,e they have distributed Tamiflu to the woman’s close contacts and conducted public health education sessions in the village where the incident occurred.

The Ministry of Health reminded citizens to be vigilant about monitoring symptoms like fever, cough or difficulty breathing which could indicate a bird flu infection. Those with symptoms should seek timely consultation and treatment at the nearest health facility. While spreading the virus from human to human is rare, the Ministry said those with symptoms should not attend gatherings or travel to highly-populated towns.

This is the 60th case of bird flu reported in Cambodia since 2005, 40 of which have been fatal. Last month, two Cambodians died from bird flu infections including a 2-year-old girl and a 50-year-old man in Prey Veng and Svay Rieng Provinces respectively.