
AsianScientist (Apr. 21, 2011) – A five year old Cambodian girl has become the fifth person to die from avian flu in the country this year, officials said Tuesday.
In a joint statement from the Ministry of Health (MoH) of the Kingdom of Cambodia and the World Health Organization, they confirmed that it was a case of human infection with the avian influenza A (H5N1) virus.
The child, who is from south-eastern Prey Veng province, developed symptoms on April 11th and was initially treated by local private practitioners. She was later admitted to Kantha Bopha Children Hospital on April 13th. Despite intensive care, she died four days after admission.
The girl is the fifteenth person in Cambodia to become infected with the H5N1 virus and the thirteenth to die from complications of the disease since 2003.
All five cases of H5N1 infections in humans in Cambodia this year have been fatal. Four victims were children.
“Compared to last year, we have seen more H5N1 cases this year and children appear to be most vulnerable. I urge parents and guardians to keep children away from sick or dead poultry,” said Cambodian Health Minister Mam Bun Heng.
There have been reports of poultry die-off in her village.
Specimens from 53 contacts of the cases were collected and are being tested by the National Institute for Public Health laboratory.
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Source: World Health Organization.
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