# 6350
The Straits Times is reporting the third Cambodian H5N1 fatality of 2012, this time the victim is a 10 year-old girl from Kampong Speu province. On March 30th a 6-year-old girl from neighboring Kampong Chhnang province also died from the virus (see LINK).
After seeing only 4 cases of H5N1 infection in humans between 2007 and 2010, Cambodia suddenly become the focus of renewed attention after 8 fatal cases were reported during 2011, and now 3 have been reported this year.
Here is the link to the story from the Straits Times.
Cambodian girl, 10, dies from bird flu: WHO
Published on May 28, 2012
PHNOM PENH (AFP) - A 10-year-old Cambodian girl has died from bird flu, the World Health Organization said on Monday, the country's third fatality from the virulent disease this year.
The child developed a fever and shortness of breath on May 20 and died on Sunday, the WHO said in a joint statement with the Cambodian health ministry.
Of the 12 cases reported out of Cambodia since 2010, none have survived. Prior to 2010, 7 of 9 known cases had died.
While it is probable that some number of H5N1 cases go undetected, how many remains a mystery. Evidence for there being a lot of missed cases is scant, but for more on this debate you may wish to revisit The Great CFR Divide.
For now, bird flu remains primarily a threat to poultry. The virus remains poorly adapted to human physiology, and despite ample opportunities to cause illness in humans, the virus only causes rare, sporadic infections.
The concern, of course, is that over time the virus will adapt further and pose a pandemic threat to humans.
