Eighth New Human Case of Avian Influenza H5N1 in Cambodia in 2013
Phnom Penh, 21 February 2013
The Ministry of Health (MoH) of the Kingdom of Cambodia wishes to
advise members of the public that one more new human case of avian
influenza has been confirmed positive for the H5N1 virus.
The Ministry of Health will continue to keep the public informed of developments via the MoH website www.cdcmoh.gov.kh
where relevant health education materials can also be downloaded. For
more information on human influenza please call the MoH Influenza
Hotline numbers: 115 (free call); 012 488 981 or 089 669 567
The eighth case, a 20-month-old boy from Ang Romduol village,
Angkor Chey commune, Angkor Chey district in Kampot province, was found
positive for influenza H5N1 on 19 February 2013 by Institut Pasteur du
Cambodge.
He developed fever and a runny nose on 6 February 2013 and was
initially treated by local private practitioners. His condition worsened
and he was admitted to Kantha Bopha Hospital on 18 February 2013 with
fever, cough and dyspnea and died on 19 February 2013. There is evidence
of recent deaths among poultry in the village.
The boy is the
eighth person this year and the 29th person to become infected with H5N1
virus, and the 26th person to die from complications of the disease in
Cambodia. Of the 29 confirmed cases, 20 were children under 14, and 19
of the 29 were female.
"Avian influenza H5N1 remains a serious
threat to the health of Cambodians, especially children,” said HE Dr.
Mam Bunheng, Minister of Health.
“This is the eighth case of H5N1
infection in humans this year, and children still seem to be most
vulnerable. Children are at high risk because they may play where
poultry are found and I urge parents and guardians to keep children away
from sick or dead poultry and prevent them from playing with chickens
and ducks.”
“Parents and guardians must also make sure children
wash their hands with soap and water after any contact with poultry. If
they have fast or difficult breathing, they should seek medical
attention at the nearest health facility and attending physicians must
be made aware of any exposure to sick or dead poultry.”
“The
greatest risk of exposure to the virus is through the handling and
slaughter of infected poultry. Home slaughtering and preparation of sick
or dead poultry for food is hazardous: this practice must be stopped.”
The
Ministry of Health's Rapid Response Teams (RRTs) have gone to the
hospital and the field to identify the boy’s close contacts, any
epidemiological linkage among the eight cases and to initiate preventive
treatment as required.
In addition, a public health education
campaign is being conducted in the village to inform families on how to
protect themselves from contracting avian influenza.
The
Government's message is: wash hands often; keep children away from
poultry; keep poultry away from living areas; do not eat sick poultry;
and all poultry eaten should be well cooked.
H5N1 influenza is a
flu that normally spreads between sick poultry, but it can sometimes
spread from poultry to humans. Human H5N1 Avian Influenza is a very
serious disease that requires hospitalization. Although the virus
currently does not easily spread among humans, if the virus changes it
could easily be spread like seasonal influenza. Hence early recognition
of cases is important.
The Ministry of Health will continue to keep the public informed of developments via the MoH website www.cdcmoh.gov.kh where relevant health education materials can also be downloaded.
For
more information on human influenza please call the MoH Influenza
Hotline numbers: 115 (free call); 012 488 981 or 089 669 567
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