PHNOM PENH, July 1 (Xinhua) — A 36-year-old woman from northwest Cambodia’s Siem Reap province has been confirmed for H5N1 human avian influenza, raising the number of the cases to 11 so far this year, the Ministry of Health said in a statement on Tuesday.
“A laboratory result from the Pasteur Institute in Cambodia showed on June 30 that the woman was positive for H5N1 virus,” the statement said. “The patient has the symptoms of fever, cough, and dyspnea, and she is currently being rescued by a team of doctors.”
The victim lives in Doun Keo village of Puok district.
There were sick and dead chickens at the patient’s home. She had been in contact with those dead chickens and took them to bury.
Health authorities are looking into the source of the infection and are examining any suspected cases or people who have been in contact with the victim in order to prevent an outbreak in the community.
Tamiflu (oseltamivir), an antiviral drug to prevent the bird flu from spreading, was also given out to people who had direct contact with the patient, the statement said.
So far this year, the kingdom recorded a total of 11 human cases of H5N1 bird flu, with five deaths, according to the Ministry of Health. ■