Cambodia reports another H5N1 avian influenza fatality in 2025
The Cambodia Ministry of Health reported a case of H5N1 avian influenza in a 11-year-old boy from Srey Sampoung village, My Kraing commune, Samrong Tong district, Kampong Speu province.
H5N1 avian influenza virus by the Pasteur Institute of Cambodia on May 27, 2025.
The child presented at the hospital in a very serious condition, including fever, cough, shortness of breath and severe difficulty breathing. Unfortunately, despite the care and rescue efforts of the medical team, the child died on May 27, 2025.
Investigations revealed that chickens and ducks near the patient’s house had been sick and dying for a week before the child started feeling sick.
This is the fourth H5N1 avian influenza, all fatal, reported in Cambodia this year.
According to the MOH press release, the emergency response team of the national and sub-national ministries of health has been collaborating with the provincial agriculture departments and local authorities at all levels to actively investigate the outbreak of bird flu and respond according to technical methods and protocols, continue to search for sources of transmission in both animals and humans, and continue to search for suspected cases and contacts to prevent further transmission to others in the community, as well as distribute Tamiflu to close contacts and conduct health education campaigns for citizens in the affected villages.
The Ministry of Health would like to remind all citizens to always pay attention to and be vigilant about bird flu because H5N1 bird flu continues to threaten the health of our citizens. We would also like to inform you that if you have a fever, cough, sputum discharge, or difficulty breathing and have a history of contact with sick or dead chickens or ducks within 14 days before the start of the symptoms, do not go to gatherings or crowded places and seek consultation and treatment at the nearest health center or hospital immediately. Avoid delaying this, which puts you at high risk of eventual death.
How it is transmitted: H5N1 bird flu is a type of flu that is usually spread from sick birds to other birds, but it can sometimes be spread from birds to humans through close contact with sick or dead birds. Bird flu in humans is a serious illness that requires prompt hospital treatment.
Although it is not easily transmitted from person to person, if it can mutate, it can be contagious, just like the seasonal flu.
How to prevent:
Do not touch or eat sick or dead chickens and ducks. Wear gloves and a mask or cover your nose with a scarf before handling chickens for food. Then blanch them in boiling water before plucking their feathers.
Adhere to hygiene practices, wash hands frequently before handling food, especially after touching animals, cleaning poultry feathers, or other objects that may be sources of contamination.
Cook food thoroughly before eating, especially meat, poultry, and eggs. Do not eat raw or undercooked eggs, and keep raw and cooked foods separate. Clean cooking utensils properly.
If there are many sick or dead chickens at home or in the village and they have symptoms of fever, cough, sputum discharge, or difficulty breathing, please urgently seek consultation and treatment at the nearest health center or hospital to avoid delay, which puts you at high risk of eventual death.