Cambodian Health Ministry reports 3 new human bird flu cases
H5N1 Avian Influenza
Image/CDC
The Cambodian Ministry of Health (MoH) reported three new human cases of bird flu, or avian influenza, two of them fatal, in the first three weeks of this year, according to an Associated Press report today.
The cases, according to the MoH include a 15-year-old girl in a village in southeastern Takeo province and a 35-year-old man in central Kampong Speu province who both died after being hospitalized with H5N1 avian influenza. An 8-month-old boy in the capital, Phnom Penh, was treated and survived.
See the Joint Statement from the Cambodian MoH and the WHO here.
Since 2005, Cambodia has recorded 21 cases, 19 of them fatal.
During the whole of 2012, Cambodia reported three cases of the lethal viral infection.
On Jan. 16, the World Health Organization (WHO) issued a avian influenza summary and assessment, which noted that from 2003 through 16 January 2013, 610 laboratory-confirmed human cases with avian influenza A(H5N1) virus infection have been officially reported to WHO from 15 countries, of which 360 died.
Since the last update on 17 December 2012, no new laboratory-confirmed human cases with influenza A(H5N1) virus infection were reported to WHO.
According to the WHO, the primary risk factor for human infection with the virus appears to be direct or indirect exposure to infected live or dead poultry or contaminated environments.
They go on to say there is no evidence to suggest that the H5N1 virus can be transmitted to humans through properly prepared poultry or eggs. A few human cases have been linked to consumption of dishes made of raw, contaminated poultry blood. However, slaughter, defeathering, handling carcasses of infected poultry, and preparing poultry for consumption, especially in household settings, are likely to be risk factors.
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[…] a follow-up to a story Friday, the Ministry of Health (MoH) of the Kingdom of Cambodia announced Tuesday that two new cases of […]