Cambodian toddler dies of bird flu: WHO

Source:Xinhua Published: 2014-3-7 12:19:02

A 3-year-old boy from capital Phnom Penh's Por Senchey district has died of H5N1 human avian influenza earlier this month, said a joint statement from the World Health Organization (WHO) and the Cambodian Health Ministry Friday.

"The boy died on March 2 after being admitted to the National Pediatric Hospital for three days," the statement said. The boy had onset symptoms of fever, cough, running nose and vomiting on Feb. 22 and his parents sent him to the National Pediatric Hospital on Feb. 28 after his condition worsened.

The boy became the sixth person infected with the virus in 2014.

The statement said in mid-February, over 90 percent of the chickens and small number of ducks suddenly died in the boy's village, and the boy often went to the house of a neighbor whose poultry died.

Bird flu remains a serious threat to the health of all Cambodians and children seem to be the most vulnerable, Health Minister Mam Bunheng said.

"I urge parents and guardians to keep children away from sick or dead poultry and make sure children wash their hands with soap and water after any contact with poultry," he said.

H5N1 influenza is a flu that normally spreads between sick poultry, but it can sometimes spread from poultry to human beings, according to the WHO.

The virus was first identified in Cambodia 10 years ago. To date, the country has reported 53 human cases of the virus, killing 35 people, the statement said.

Posted in: Fitness

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