Chicken flu kills 11-year-old lady in Cambodia, officers say
PHNOM PENH, Cambodia – An 11-year-old lady in Cambodia has died from fowl flu within the nation’s first recognized human H5N1 an infection since 2014, well being officers mentioned.
Chicken flu, also referred to as avian influenza, usually spreads in poultry and wasn’t deemed a risk to folks till a 1997 outbreak amongst guests to dwell poultry markets in Hong Kong. Most human instances worldwide have concerned direct contact with contaminated poultry, however issues have arisen just lately about infections in a wide range of mammals and the likelihood the virus may evolve to unfold extra simply between folks.
The lady from the agricultural southeastern province of Prey Veng turned sick Feb. 16 and was despatched to be handled at a hospital within the capital, Phnom Penh. She was recognized Wednesday after struggling a fever as much as 102 levels Fahrenheit with coughing and throat ache and died shortly afterward, the Well being Ministry mentioned in an announcement Wednesday evening.
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Well being officers have taken samples from a useless wild fowl at a conservation space close to the lady’s residence, the ministry mentioned in one other assertion Thursday. It mentioned groups within the space would additionally warn residents about touching useless and sick birds.
Cambodian Well being Minister Mam Bunheng warned that fowl flu poses an particularly excessive danger to youngsters who could also be feeding or amassing eggs from domesticated poultry, taking part in with the birds or cleansing their cages.
Signs of H5N1 an infection are much like that of different flus, together with cough, aches and fever, and in critical instances, sufferers can develop life-threatening pneumonia.
Cambodia had 56 human instances of H5N1 from 2003 via 2014 and 37 of them have been deadly, based on the World Well being Group.
Globally, about 870 human infections and 457 deaths have been reported to the WHO in 21 nations. However the tempo has slowed, and there have been about 170 infections and 50 deaths within the final seven years.
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WHO Director-Common Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus earlier this month expressed concern about avian influenza infections in mammals together with minks, otters, foxes and sea lions.
“H5N1 has unfold broadly in wild birds and poultry for 25 years, however the latest spillover to mammals must be monitored carefully,” he warned.
In January, a 9-year-old lady in Ecuador turned the primary reported case of human an infection in Latin America and the Caribbean. She was handled with antiviral medication.
Tedros mentioned earlier this month that the WHO nonetheless assesses the danger from fowl flu to people as low.
“However we can’t assume that may stay the case, and we should put together for any change in the established order,” he mentioned. He suggested for folks to not contact useless or sick wild animals and for nations to strengthen their surveillance of settings the place folks and animals work together.
