Officers say fowl flu killed a lady, 11, in Cambodia

By Sopheng Cheang | Related Press

PHNOM PENH, Cambodia — An 11-year-old woman in Cambodia has died from fowl flu within the nation’s first identified human H5N1 an infection since 2014, well being officers stated.

Hen flu, also called avian influenza, usually spreads in poultry and wasn’t deemed a risk to individuals till a 1997 outbreak amongst guests to stay poultry markets in Hong Kong. Most human instances worldwide have concerned direct contact with contaminated poultry, however issues have arisen not too long ago about infections in a wide range of mammals and the likelihood the virus might evolve to unfold extra simply between individuals.

The woman from the agricultural southeastern province of Prey Veng grew to become in poor health Feb. 16 and was despatched to be handled at hospital within the capital, Phnom Penh. She was recognized Wednesday after struggling a fever as much as 39 Celsius (102 Fahrenheit) with coughing and throat ache and died shortly afterward, the Well being Ministry stated in a press release Wednesday night time.

Well being officers have taken samples from a useless wild fowl at a conservation space close to the woman’s dwelling, the ministry stated in one other assertion Thursday. It stated groups within the space would additionally warn residents about touching useless and sick birds.

Cambodian Well being Minister Mam Bunheng warned that fowl flu poses an particularly excessive danger to kids who could also be feeding or amassing eggs from domesticated poultry, taking part in with the birds or cleansing their cages.

Signs of H5N1 an infection are just like that of different flus, together with cough, aches and fever, and in severe instances, sufferers can develop life-threatening pneumonia.

Cambodia had 56 human instances of H5N1 from 2003 via 2014 and 37 of them have been deadly, in accordance with the World Well being Group.

Globally, about 870 human infections and 457 deaths have been reported to the WHO in 21 international locations. However the tempo has slowed, and there have been about 170 infections and 50 deaths within the final seven years.

WHO Director-Normal Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus earlier this month expressed concern about avian influenza infections in mammals together with minks, otters, foxes and sea lions.

“H5N1 has unfold extensively in wild birds and poultry for 25 years, however the latest spillover to mammals must be monitored intently,” he warned.

In January, a 9-year-old woman in Ecuador grew to become the primary reported case of human an infection in Latin America and the Caribbean. She was handled with antiviral medication.