Cambodia reports sixth H5N1 avian influenza case
The Ministry of Health (MoH) of the Kingdom of Cambodia is reporting the sixth human H5N1 avian influenza case of 2014, a fatal case, in a Phnom Penh province child, according to a Joint Press Release From the Ministry of Health, Kingdom of Cambodia, and the World Health Organization (WHO) today.
The details of the case are as follows:
A 3-year-old boy from Prey Lyea village, Sangkat Chom-Chao commune, Khan Por-SenChey district, Phnom Penh province, was detected by the National Institute of Public Health (NIPH) on 3rd March and confirmed positive by Institut Pasteur du Cambodge (IPC), on 3rd March. The boy had onset symptoms of fever, cough, running nose and vomiting on 22nd February 2014. His parents sought treatment at a private clinic on the same day. His condition worsened and the boy was admitted to National Pediatric Hospital (NPH) on 28th February. On 2nd March, the boy had symptoms of fever, cough, running nose, vomiting, dyspnea, and cyanoses and was transferred to Calmette Hospital on the same day. The boy died about one hour after his admission on 2ndMarch.
Image/CIA
The epidemiological investigation of the case revealed that in his village, there was a large bird die-off around mid-February. Although he reportedly had no direct contact with sick or dead birds, the boy was often going to a neighbors house where their poultry died.
Cambodia Minister of Health, H.E. Dr. Mam Bunheng said, “Avian influenza H5N1 remains a serious threat to the health of all Cambodians and more so for children, who seem to be most vulnerable and are at high risk. There have been 53 cases of H5N1 infection in humans since 2005 and here is the sixth case of this year. Children often care for domestic poultry by feeding them, cleaning pens and gathering eggs. Children may also have closer contact with poultry as they often treat them as pets and also seem to be most vulnerable and are at high risk because they like to play where poultry are found. I urge parents and guardians to keep children away from sick or dead poultry and prevent them from playing with chickens and ducks. “
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