Cambodia Confirms Human-based Bird Flu Outbreak

Cambodia's Secretary of State of the Ministry of Health today confirmed that an emergency response found 12 people infected with Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HAPI) A(H5N1) in Prey Veng province.

As reported by the Khmer Times on February 23, 2023,  this news follows a recent death of an 11-year-old girl from 'bird flu' in Roleang village, Romlech commune, Sithor Kandal district, Prey Veng province.

Panharith Seng, director of the Prey Veng provincial health department, told VOA Khmer on February 23, 2023, that chickens and ducks found in the area where the girl lived had recently died of the H5N1 virus.

According to the Ministry of Health, the girl is the first person to die of H5N1 since 2014.

The Ministry of Health added that bird flu has been endemic in Cambodia since 2005, with a total of 57 infections and 38 deaths.

As of February 2, 2023, the World Health Organization reported a total of 240 cases of human infection with avian influenza A(H5N1) virus had been reported from four countries within the Western Pacific Region since January 2003.

Of these cases, 135 were fatal. 

Globally, seven human influenza A H5N1 2.3.4.4b infections were reported in Ecuador, China, Vietnam, the U.K., Spain (2), and Colorado during 2022-2023.

Bird Flu (Avian influenza) is a disease caused by influenza type A viruses that occur naturally among birds and domestic poultry.

The Eurasian H5N1 strain appeared in North America in January 2022 and has impacted 47 states, leading to the loss of over 58 million birds as of early February 2023.

Additionally, bird flu infections have been confirmed in various mammals, such as bears, foxes, and seals.

In the event of a human-based bird flu outbreak, the U.S. government has already approved the Audenza™ vaccine.

And the U.S. CDC had not issued a travel alert regarding Cambodia's bird flu outbreak.

This is an active event with VOA updates inserted. As of February 24, 2023, Cambodia reported a second human case of H5N1 bird flu.

Breaking bird flu news is posted here.

Update: Feb. 26, 2023 - This case was Clade 2.3.2.1c avian influenza virus has been endemic in Southeast Asia for ~10 years, and human-human transmission ability has not been established.