Cambodian Toddler Diagnosed with H5N1 Bird Flu

Key Takeaways

Three human cases of H5N1 in Cambodia this year.
Two fatalities reported among the cases.
Child raised sick chickens, some of which died.
Health officials are monitoring potential outbreak sources.
H5N1 primarily transmitted through infected birds.

Phnom Penh, March 23 (NationPress) A three-year-and-six-month-old boy from Kratie province in northeast Cambodia has been diagnosed with H5N1 human avian influenza, increasing the total number of cases to three this year, as reported by the Ministry of Health on Sunday.

The child was admitted to the hospital in a serious condition, exhibiting symptoms such as fever, cough, and difficulty breathing. He is currently receiving intensive medical care from a dedicated team of healthcare professionals.

According to investigations, the boy's family raised chickens, and approximately five of their chickens had perished, while others showed signs of illness. The family had prepared the deceased poultry for consumption, the statement noted.

Health officials are actively investigating the origin of the infection and are screening for any suspected cases or individuals who may have had contact with the patient to avert a community outbreak.

This year, there have been three confirmed human cases of H5N1, with two fatalities. All reported patients had a history of recent exposure to sick or deceased poultry before showing symptoms, as per the Xinhua news agency.

Avian influenza A(H5N1) is a subtype of influenza virus that primarily affects birds and mammals, including humans on rare occasions. The goose/Guangdong lineage of H5N1 avian influenza viruses originated in 1996 and has led to numerous bird outbreaks since then. A variant of these viruses belonging to the H5 clade 2.3.4.4b has caused an alarming number of fatalities in wild birds and poultry across Africa, Asia, and Europe since 2020. The virus spread to North America in 2021 and reached Central and South America in 2022.

Since 2003, there have been 75 recorded cases of human infections with H5N1 influenza in the Southeast Asian nation, resulting in 45 deaths, according to the ministry.

Human infections can lead to serious illnesses with a high mortality rate. The detected human cases are primarily associated with close contact with infected birds and contaminated environments. Notably, this virus does not seem to spread easily from person to person, and sustained human-to-human transmission has not been observed.