Bird flu in Cambodia: WHO says it is "worrying"
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Phnom Penh: After an 11-year-old girl died due to avian flu in Cambodia, the WHO said the issue is "worrying" and began working with the government.
The girl was from the rural Prey Veng province. She was diagnosed with H5N1 on Wednesday and had fallen ill a week earlier. She had symptoms like high fever, cough, and sore throat. 11 others including her father had been tested, reported BBC.
Dr. Sylvie Briand, the director of the epidemic and pandemic preparedness and prevention, said there has been a rise in flu cases in birds and mammals. "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. WHO takes the risk from this virus seriously and urges heightened vigilance from all countries."
At a video conference earlier this month, the global body said the risk of H5N1 bird flu is minimal to humans. However, director-general, Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said the spread to mammals needs to be monitored.
This is the first known human infection of bird flu of the H5N1 strain in Cambodia since 2014.