Six people infected with bird flu in Cambodia

Cambodia communication　No.23/88
November 29th

According to the Khmer Times, the Cambodian Ministry of Health announced on November 29 that two cases of avian influenza (H5N1) have been confirmed in Cambodia. This brings the total number of infected people in the country to six.

According to the newspaper, the first four people were infected with H5N1, the same virus that spread in the country more than a decade ago. Health authorities are currently investigating whether the two newly discovered infections are the same.

One of the two newly infected people is a 21-year-old woman from Kampot province. The woman developed symptoms on November 19th, was hospitalized on the 23rd, and was treated in the intensive care unit. Health officials said there was a dead chicken in the woman’s home. As authorities begin a detailed investigation, they are also distributing Tamiflu to people in the area and asking them to take precautions.

A 4-year-old girl who lives next door to this woman also developed symptoms on November 23rd after coming into contact with a dead chicken, and was admitted to the hospital on the 25th, receiving treatment in the intensive care unit.