Cambodia reports 4th and 5th H5N1 avian influenza cases in two female pre-teens
The Kingdom of Cambodia appears to be showing a continuation of the increased numbers of human H5N1 avian influenza from 2013, where they reported 26 cases.
H5N1 avian influenza
Image/CDC
The Cambodian Ministry of Health reported Thursday two additional cases of the dangerous virus in two girls, ages 10 and 11.
Information on the cases are as follows:
The 4th case, a 10-year-old girl from Rorveang village, Knor Damborng commune, Cheung Prey district, Kampong Cham (newly named Tboung Khmun) province, was detected by the Naval Medical Research Unit 2 (NAMRU-2) through fever surveillance on 20th February and confirmed positive by Institut Pasteur du Cambodge on 20th February 2014.
The girl had onset symptom of fever on 26th January 2014. Her mother bought medicine in the village. From the 27th January, she continued to develop symptoms and had fever, running nose, cough, and abdominal pain. On the 29th January, the health staff of the NAMRU-2 project took samples from the girl.
Upon confirmation of H5Nl, she was referred toKampong Cham Provincial Hospital on 20th February and Tamiflu was administered on the same day. Currently, she recovered and had normal activities.
The case had direct exposure with dead and sick poultry. Farm ducks in the village started to suddenly die around 15th January 2014. The mother of the case brought sick/dead ducks on the 25th January and the family prepared them, with the help of the case, for food the same day.
The 5th case, an 11-year-old girl from La Ork Village, Krek Commune, Ponhea Krek district, Kampong Cham (newly named Thoung Khmum) province, was detected by the Naval Medical Research Unit 2 (NAMRU-2) through fever surveillance on 20th February and confirmed positive by Insitut Pasteur du Cambodge on 29th February 2014.
The girl had onset of symptoms of fever and cough on 9th February 2014. The health staff at the NAMRU-2 project took samples from the girl on the 10th February. Upon confirmation of H5N1, she was referred to Kampong Cham Provincial Hospital on 20th February and Tamiflu was administered on the same day. Currently, she recovered and had normal activities.
From the 7th to 10th February, all 30 chickens owned by family died around the house. The relatives reported that the girl had no direct contact, but the chickens died in close proximity to the case.
These newest cases are the 51st and 52nd confirmed human cases of H5N1 bird flu since the viral disease was first seen in Cambodia in 2005.
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