#18,254
For the third time in the last 3 weeks Cambodia's MOH has announced another H5N1 case - the 10th of 2024 and the 18th since new cases began to be reported in early 2023 - this time in a 15 y.o. girl from Prey Veng Province, who reportedly died today after severe illness.
It isn't clear from this report exactly when she fell ill, and while the press release refers to `onset of illness in the village', one should never rely too heavily on the exact syntax of these translated reports.
The epidemiological investigation continues, and we'll simply have to wait to see if new cases are announced. As is customary, Tamiflu is being dispersed to those who may have been exposed.
All of the cases reported in Cambodia to date have been from an older 2.3.2.1c clade of H5N1, which predates the emergence of clade 2.3.4.4b which has spread across much of the rest of the world. Until early last year, Cambodia had gone nearly a decade without reporting a human infection.The statement and translation follow, after which I'll have a bit more.
(Translation)
Kingdom of Cambodia, Nation, Religion, King
Ministry of Health
Press Release on
15-year-old girl dies of bird flu
The Ministry of Health would like to inform the public that there is another case of bird flu in a 15-year-old girl and has been confirmed positive for H5N1 bird flu virus from the National Institutes of Public Health and the Institut Pasteur. On August 20, 2024, living in Po Minh village, Kanhcheach commune, Kanhcheach district, Prey Veng province.Despite the care and assistance of the medical team, due to the serious condition of the patient, including fever, cough, sore throat, shortness of breath and fainting. The girl passed away on August 20, 2024. According to the interrogation, about 5 days before the onset of illness in the village, there were many dead chickens and the relatives of the dead chickens were distributed to the patients' families to cook, and the girl touched and held the dead chickens to make Food.
The National and Sub-National Emergency Response Team of the Ministry of Health has been cooperating with the working groups of the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries and the Ministry of Environment, local authorities at all levels to actively investigate the outbreak of bird flu and respond. In accordance with the methods and technical protocols, continue to search for 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 close contacts. And conduct health education campaigns for the people in the above-mentioned villages.
The Ministry of Health would like to remind all people to always pay attention to bird flu because H5N1 bird flu continues to threaten the health of our people and also would like to inform you if you have a fever, cough. Sneezing or shortness of breath and a history of contact with sick or dead chickens during the 14 days before the onset of symptoms, do not go to crowded places or towns and seek consultation and treatment at the local level. Health near you as soon as possible.
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: Wash your hands often with soap and water before eating and after contact with birds. Keep children away from birds and birds away from home. Do not eat sick or dead birds and all birds. Made for eating, must be cooked well.
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.
For more information, please contact the Ministry of Health Hotline 115 toll-free.
Tuesday, August 1, 2024, Cambodia
While the reasons behind this sudden resurgence after 9 years remain a mystery, a 2023 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.
The sharing, and cooking, of sick or dying poultry is something we've seen reported previously with these outbreaks, and was a major risk cited by that study. The authors noted:
- Cambodia's higher-risk behaviors or vulnerability groups need priority intervention to reduce infectious and zoonotic diseases.
- Furthermore, we noticed that 23% of participants cooked sick or dead poultries for their families.
- This study found that 49% reported poultry illness and deaths to local authorities.
