(UPDATED)
# 4314
A curious report out of Cambodia, where 10,000 ducks have died and another 30,000 are reported sickened in Takeo province, which borders Vietnam.
The cause of these bird deaths is not yet known, although bird flu is no doubt under consideration. There are other possibilities, of course, including parasites or toxins, or even other virus strains.
While ducks can and do die from H5N1, they often carry the virus asymptomatically or exhibit minor symptoms, like weight loss. The range of symptoms seems dependent upon the species of duck, as some are more resistant than others.
Hopefully we’ll get test results back on this die off in the next day or two. In the meantime, a hat tip to RoRo on FluTrackers for posting this report.
Over 10,000 ducks die in Cambodia
2010-02-01 19:59
The Cambodian government said on Monday that more than 10,000 ducks have died and some 30,000 others are being sick in the country's southern province of Takeo.
Kao Phal, director of animal production department of agriculture ministry said that samples of the dead ducks being examined and the results will be known Tuesday or the day after.
He said that those dead ducks were reported happening a few days ago and now some 30,000 others are being sick.
Kao Phal said while sample testing is being examined, he could not tell what the cause to the deaths of the ducks was.
However, he said no report of any disease or death of human lives, but at the same time precaution to villagers is strictly advised by the government health concerning authorities.
According to Kao Sophal, the case is happening in Prey Khla village, Rominh Commune, Koh Andeth district in Takeo province, some 90 km south of Phnom Penh.
Cambodia, in the past and present, has had reports on the bird flu and influenza A/H1N1.
This update, from the Phnom Penh Post.
FOWL PLAY: Takeo orders destruction of ducks
Tuesday, 02 February 2010 15:02
Khouth Sophak Chakrya and Kim Yuthana
The Takeo province Agriculture Office has ordered the farmers of domesticated ducks across the province to incinerate their birds and temporarily suspended the sale of the animals’ meat until the results tests for the H5N1 virus (also known as bird flu), come back from Phnom Penh this week following mass deaths of the fowl.
Nhib Sron, director of the Takeo agriculture office, said that since the middle of January, about 50,000 ducks in the province’s Koh Andeth district had contracted an unknown illness, and that there were signs the disease had reached some communes in neighbouring Tramkak district.
“We haven’t identified the virus or other agent causing these deaths, but we sent some of the dead animals to a Phnom Penh laboratory for analysis,” Nhib Sron said. Thai Ly, Takeo province’s chief officer of domesticated animals, said that 16,442 ducks had died since the outbreak began, and that roughly 31,000 more have fallen sick.
