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# 7934
For the second time in a week (see Cambodia MOH Reports 22nd H5N1 Case Of The Year) we learn of a child infected with the H5N1 virus from the Cambodian Ministry of Health. This time, it is a 2 year-old form Pursat Province, who died on October 26th.
Most of Cambodia’s H5N1 activity has been centered this year in the southern provinces (Takeo, Kampong Speu, Kampot, Phnom Penh). I believe this to be the first case reported from the western province of Pursat, at least over the past several years.
To date, Cambodia has reported 44 cases of H5N1 infection, with 23 of those occurring this year. This from the Ministry of Health.
23rd New Human Case of Avian Influenza H5N1 in Cambodia in 2013
04 November 2013The 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 23rd case this year and the 44th person to become infected with the H5N1 virus in Cambodia. The 23rd case died on 26th October 2013. Of the 44 confrrmed cases, 33 were children under 14, and 27 of the 44 were female. In addition, only 11 cases out of the 23 cases this year survived.
The 23rd case, a 2-year-old girl from Svay Chrum village, Borng Bort Kandal commune, Bakane district, Pursat province was confirmed positive for H5N1 human avian influenza on 30th October 2013 by Institut Pasteur du Cambodge. The girl developed fever on 17th October 2013. On 19th October 2013, her parents sought treatment for her at a local private practitioner. Her condition worsened and she was admitted to Jayavarman VII Hospital in Siem Reap on 25th October 2013 with fever, running nose, lethargy, dyspnea, cough and breathing difficulties. Laboratory samples were taken the same day, but no Tamifu was administered. The girl died on the 26th October 2013.
While its likely we aren’t getting comprehensive reporting from all of the H5N1 endemic countries around the globe (due to censorship, lack of surveillance, and/or political turmoil), Cambodia – increasingly over the past three years – has grown to become a hotspot for human H5 infection.
2005 – 4 cases 2010 – 1 case
2006 – 2 cases 2011 – 8 cases
2007 – 1 case 2012 - 3 cases
2008 – 1 case 2013 – 23 cases
2009 – 1 case
So far, all of the cases this year appear to be widely scattered and have been linked to direct contact to infected poultry. There are no indications of human-to-human spread of the virus.
While we have been preoccupied this summer with H7N9, MERS-CoV, and even a new strain of H7N7 (see Nature: Genesis Of The H7N9 Virus) – H5N1 remains a legitimate concern. For now, however, H5N1 remains poorly adapted to humans, only causing sporadic infections in Southeast Asia and the Middle East, and is primarily a threat to poultry.
That status could change, of course.
So we watch these cases around the world with great interest, looking for any signs that the virus is evolving, and that it is moving towards becoming a bigger public health threat.
