11-year-old girl dies of bird flu in Cambodia

The first human H5N1 infection in Cambodia since 2014 has been confirmed in an 11-year-old girl, according to health officials.

Prior to a 1997 outbreak among visitors to live poultry markets in Hong Kong, bird flu, also known as avian influenza, was not considered a threat to humans.

The majority of human cases around the world have entailed close contact with infected poultry, but there have been worries recently about infections in various animals and the potential for the virus to develop such that it is easier to pass between people.

The girl from Prey Veng, a remote district in southeast Cambodia, fell ill on February 16 and was taken to a hospital in the city of Phnom Penh for treatment.

In the eastern province of Prey Veng, an animal health official from Cambodia and a military policeman display posters warning of the dangers posed by the H5N1 virus (Cambodia Ministry of Health via AP)

She had a fever of up to 39 degrees Celsius, coughing, and throat pain on Wednesday before being diagnosed, according to a statement released by the Health Ministry on Wednesday evening. She later passed away.

According to a separate statement released by the ministry on Thursday, health experts have collected samples from a deceased wild bird at a conservation area close to the girl's home.

Teams in the area would also issue warnings to locals not to handle sick or dead birds, it was stated.

Mam Bunheng, the health minister for Cambodia, issued a warning that youngsters who may be feeding or collecting eggs from domesticated poultry, playing with the birds, or cleaning their cages are particularly at risk for contracting bird flu.

When H5N1 infection is severe, patients may experience life-threatening pneumonia in addition to typical flu symptoms such as cough, aches, and fever.

According to the World Health Organization, from 2003 to 2014, there were 56 human cases of H5N1 in Cambodia, and 37 of these resulted in death (WHO).

457 fatalities and 870 person illnesses have been reported to the WHO from 21 countries worldwide.

But, the rate has dropped, and in the previous seven years, there have been about 170 infections and 50 fatalities.

In the eastern province of Prey Veng, locals are taught how to take care of their health by Cambodian animal health experts (Cambodia Ministry of Health via AP). Earlier this month, WHO director-general Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus expressed concern about avian influenza infections in mammals like minks, otters, foxes, and sea lions.

“H5N1 has spread widely in wild birds and poultry for 25 years, but the recent spillover to mammals needs to be monitored closely,” he warned.

The first instance of human infection in Latin America and the Caribbean was reported in January, affecting a nine-year-old girl in Ecuador.

She received antiviral medication for treatment.

Mr. Tedros stated earlier this month that the WHO continues to view the danger of human exposure to bird flu as low.

“But we cannot assume that will remain the case, and we must prepare for any change in the status quo,” he said.

Mr. Tedros cautioned against handling sick or dead wild animals and urged governments to increase their oversight of areas where people and animals congregate.

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