New Delhi: An 11-year-old girl in Cambodia has died of bird flu in the country’s first known human H5N1 infection since 2014, health officials said this week. The girl, from the rural southeastern province of Pre Vang, fell ill on February 16 and was sent for treatment to a hospital in the capital, Phnom Penh. He was diagnosed on February 22 after developing a fever of up to 39 Celsius (102 Fahrenheit) with cough and sore throat, and died shortly thereafter, the health ministry said in a statement.
The ministry said in another statement on Thursday that health officials had collected samples from a dead wild bird in a conservation area near the girl’s home.
It said teams in the area would also warn residents about touching dead and sick birds.
Bird flu situation ‘worrying’: WHO
The recent increase in bird flu cases in birds and mammals has led to the World Health Organization (WHO) saying the situation is “alarming”. The global health body also said it is working with Cambodian authorities after two human cases of H5N1 bird flu were confirmed among a family in the country.
Dr Sylvie Briand, Director of Epidemics and Epidemic Preparedness and Prevention, told reporters in a virtual briefing that the WHO is reviewing its global risk assessment in light of recent developments.
The UN health agency last assessed the risk to humans from avian flu as low earlier this month.
“The global H5N1 situation is worrying given the widespread spread of the virus in birds around the world and the increasing number of cases reported in mammals, including humans,” Briand said.
“WHO takes the risk from this virus seriously and urges all countries to increase vigilance,” said Briand.
The WHO official said it was not yet clear whether there was any human-to-human transmission, which was a major reason for focusing on the cases in Cambodia, or if the two cases were due to “similar environmental conditions”. Close contact with infected birds or other animals.
Bird flu outbreak: New strain of H5N1 surfaced in 2020
A new strain of H5N1, clade 2.3.4.4b, emerged in 2020 and has been causing a record number of deaths among wild birds and domestic poultry in recent months.
It has also infected mammals and has raised global concerns after spreading to many parts of Africa, Asia and Europe as well as North and South America.
However, unlike earlier outbreaks of H5N1, which have been around for more than two decades, this subtype is not causing significant illness in people.
Globally, about 870 human infections and 457 deaths have been reported to WHO in 21 countries. But the pace has slowed and there have been about 170 infections and 50 deaths in the past seven years.
According to a report, since October 2021, at least 60 countries have killed chickens in response to bird flu outbreaks. Affected countries include India, Taiwan, Nepal, Peru, Czech Republic, Romania and Niger.
Bird flu, also known as avian influenza, is usually spread in poultry
Bird flu, also known as avian influenza, is usually transmitted in poultry and was not considered a threat to people until a 1997 outbreak among live visitors to poultry markets in Hong Kong.
Most human cases worldwide have involved direct contact with infected poultry, but concerns have recently arisen about infection in a variety of mammals and the possibility that the virus may spread more easily between people.
bird flu symptoms
Symptoms of H5N1 infection are similar to other cases of the flu, including cough, aches and fever, and in severe cases, patients can develop life-threatening pneumonia.