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Overnight the Cambodian MOH posted an announcement on their Facebook page (see below) indicating that they have detected another H5N1 infection - the 5th of 2023 - this time in a 21 y.o. woman who is currently being treated in the ICU.
It is worth noting that this case is being reported from Kampot Province, which is roughly 100 miles south and west of the two cases reported in early October.
Kingdom of Cambodia, Nation, Religion, King
Ministry of HealthPress ReleaseOn cases of bird flu in 21-year-old womenThe Ministry of Health of the Kingdom of Cambodia would like to inform the public that there is another case of bird flu in a 21-year-old woman and was confirmed positive for the H5N1 bird flu virus from the National Institutes of Health. Public and Institut Pasteur du Cambodge on November 23, 2023, residing in Trapeang Russey village, Damnak Sokrom commune, Dong Tong district, Kampot province. According to the investigation, about a week ago, there were a series of dead chickens at home and in the village.
The patient became ill on November 19, 2023, then developed respiratory symptoms, including fever, dyspnea and cough, and was rushed to the Khmer-Soviet Friendship Hospital on November 23, 2023. The patient is currently in the emergency room with intensive care by a team of doctors.
On the night of November 23, 2023, the emergency response teams of the Ministry of Health at the national and sub-national levels were working with the working group of the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries and the Ministry of Environment to investigate the outbreak of this bird flu and Respond to methods and technical protocols to find sources of transmission in both animals and humans, and continue to search for suspected and affected cases to prevent transmission to others in the community, and distribute Tamiflu to You are closely involved and campaigning for the health of the people in the village where the incident took place.
The Ministry of Health would like to remind all citizens to always pay attention to avian influenza because H5N1 avian influenza continues to threaten the health of our people and also would like to inform you if there is a fever. Do not cough or have difficulty breathing or have health problems. Do not go to crowded places or towns and seek consultation and treatment at the nearest health facility on time.
Transmission: H5N1 bird flu is a flu virus that is usually transmitted from sick birds to other birds, but can sometimes be transmitted from birds to humans through close contact with sick or dead birds. Avian influenza in humans is a serious disease that requires timely hospitalization. Although it is not easily transmitted from person to person, if it can metabolize it can be as contagious as the seasonal flu.
Preventive measures: The government's educational message includes: Wash your hands often with soap and water before eating and after contact with birds, keep children away from birds and keep birds away from living, do not eat birds. Sick or dead and all birds made for eating must be well cooked.
The Ministry of Health will continue to inform the public about information related to public health issues through the Telegram Channel and the official Facebook page of the Ministry of Health, as well as the official Facebook page of the Department of Infectious Diseases and the website www.cdcmoh.gov.kh, which has Health education materials that can be downloaded, viewed and used. For more information, please contact the Ministry of Health Hotline 115 for free or contact the Ministry of Health at: 012 488 981 or 012 836 868.
Friday, the 12th day of the lunar month of Thao Panchasak, BE 2567, the capital of Thailand, November 24, 2023
This is most likely another clade 2.3.2.1c H5N1 infection - an older lineage of avian flu which predates our current clade 2.3.4.4b epizootic - but one that has been linked to fatal human infections in the past.
In early October we saw 2 fatal cases reported by Cambodia (see Cambodian MOH Reports 2nd Fatal H5N1 Case In Two Days), while last February 2 additional cases (1 fatal) were reported (see Cambodian CDC: H5N1 Cluster From Clade 2.3.2.1c (Not 2.3.4.4b)).
These 5 recent H5N1 infections are the first reported in Cambodia since 2014.
Despite our recent preoccupation with HPAI H5N1 clade 2.3.4.4b, which has been spreading with remarkable speed via migratory birds for the past couple of years, HPAI H5Nx viruses remain a diverse, and evolving threat.While the reasons behind this sudden resurgence after 9 years remain a mystery, a recent study (see Preprint: A Timely Survey of Knowledge, Attitudes, and Practices Related to Avian Influenza (H5N1) in Rural, Cambodia) found very lax attitudes regarding avian flu among the rural population (e.g. 23% of participants cooked sick or dead poultries for their families).
