Cambodian Health Minister Mam Bunheng has apprised that an 11 year old girl from Cambodia’s Prey Veng province has died of H5N1 virus bird flu infection which has caused the concern of its outbreak in the country. It is South East Asian Country’s first known case of H5N1 virus infection since 2014.
11 year old Cambodian Girl dies of H5N1 virus bird flu infection
The 11 year old girl from Prey Veng province had fallen severely ill with high fever and cough, due to which her condition got worsened. She was also transferred to National Children’s hospital in Phom Penh for treatment, where she had succumbed to the illness. Her father and 11 others also had exhibited symptoms of the virus and were also tested positive.
Incident has also caused alarm bells ringing in WHO , whose Epidemic and Prevention preparedness and prevention director Sylvie Briand stated that the UN agency was closely monitoring the situation with the Cambodian Government. Further stated that WHO was in close contact with Cambodian authorities as well as the tests of other people who had been in contact with the girl.
“So far, it is too early to know if it’s human to human transmission or exposure to the same environmental conditions,”
Also Read: India saved 3.4mn people through Covid-19 vaccination drive: Report
Cambodian Health Authorities have advised the locals to follow precautionary measures in view of the virus and have collected samples of birds from near the girls village and urged people not to handle dead or sick animals and birds.
According to US CDC, avian influenza or bird flu in humans is a rare case , however human infections can happen when virus gets into a person’s eyes, nose or mouth ,or is inhaled.
WHO worried and raises alarm bell
World Health Organization (WHO) has in its deliberation stated that the situation in Cambodia is “worrying”, due to the recent rise in cases in birds and mamals.
Dr. Sylvie Briand stated,
“The global H5N1 situation is worrying given the wide spread of the virus in birds around the world and the increasing reports of cases in mammals including humans,” Briand said. “WHO takes the risk from this virus seriously and urges heightened vigilance from all countries.”
New strain of H5N1 clade 2.3.4.4b had emerged in 2020 and since then has been causing record number of deaths among wild birds and domestic poultry in recent months and has also infected mammals , which has sparked global concerns.
Also Read: 3 security personnel killed in encounter with Naxals in Chhattisgarh
Keep watching our YouTube Channel ‘DNP INDIA’. Also, please subscribe and follow us on FACEBOOK, INSTAGRAM, and TWITTER.
