Credit WHO WPRO
# 8265
Last year Cambodia reported the largest number of human H5N1 infections in the world, with 26 cases (see Cambodian MOH Announces Two New H5N1 Cases) as of mid-November. This was a major increase for that country, which had reported only 21 cases in the previous 7 years.
In December the World Health Organization released their monthly Influenza at the human - animal interface report where they discussed this uptick in activity :
(excerpts)
This might be due to improvements in surveillance and physician awareness or to a potential increased circulation of the virus in poultry. The case fatality rate among reported cases, however, has decreased (54% in 2013 compared with 90% over all previous years).
Before 2013, H5N1 viruses from clade 1.1 predominated in Cambodia. Analysis of isolates from human cases and birds from the beginning of 2013 revealed the emergence of a new H5N1 genotype resulting from the reassortment of clade 1.1 and clade 2.3.2.1 viruses.
The link between the emergence of this reassortant virus and the increase in human cases observed in 2013 is yet to be determined.
Given the sporadic nature and broad geographic distribution of these cases, there were no signs of community-level transmission, and the assumption is that these infections came from exposure to infected birds.
After a lull in reporting over the past 10 weeks, today the Cambodian MOH has released the following statement on their first H5N1 detection of 2014 (h/t Biological on FluTrackers).
1st New Human Case of Avian Influenza H5N1 in Cambodia in 20144 February 2014The Ministry of Health (MoH) of the Kingdom of Cambodia wishes to advise members of the public that one new human case of avian influenza has been confirmed for the H5N1 virus. This is the 1st case of this year and the 48th people to become infected with the H5N1 virus in Cambodia. Case is from Kampong Thom province and he is currently in a stable condition. Of the 48 confirmed cases, 36 were children under 14, and 27 of the 48 were female. In addition, since the first case happened in Cambodia in 2005 there were only 16 cases survived.
The 1st case this year, a 5-year-old boy from Chongda village, Tbaung Kropeur commune, Santuk district, Kampong Thom province, was confirmed positive for H5N1 human avian influenza on 1st February 2014 by Institut Pasteur du Cambodge. The boy had onset fever and headache on 24th January 2014, his parents sought treatment at a private clinic on 27th January with symptoms of high fever and cough, but his condition worsened. The boy was admitted to Jayavarman VII Hospital, Siem Reap, on 30th January 2014. Tamiflu was administered on 31st January.
