Father tests positive for bird flu after Cambodian girl dies

Father tests positive for bird flu after Cambodian girl dies
The father of an 11-year-old lady in Cambodia who died this week after contracting hen flu has examined constructive for the virus however has not displayed any main signs, well being authorities stated.

The dying got here amid heightened issues over a wave of hen flu that has unfold by means of a lot of the world since late 2021, posing a possible public well being danger.

The lady, from a village within the southeastern province of Prey Veng, died Wednesday at a hospital within the capital, Phnom Penh, shortly after checks confirmed she had Type A H5N1 hen flu, based on Cambodia’s Health Ministry.

Cambodia health experts spray disinfectant at a village in Prey Veng where a girl caught bird flu.
Cambodia well being consultants spray disinfectant at a village in Prey Veng the place a lady caught hen flu. (AP)

She had fallen in poor health on February 16, and when her situation declined she was despatched to the hospital with a fever as excessive as 39°C with coughing and throat ache.

Bird flu, often known as avian influenza, usually spreads between sick poultry however can typically unfold from poultry to people. The latest detection of infections in quite a lot of mammals, together with at a big mink farm in Spain, has raised concern amongst consultants that the virus might evolve to unfold extra simply between individuals, and doubtlessly set off a pandemic.

Health Ministry spokesperson Ly Sovann informed The Associated Press that the Cambodian father’s case is below investigation, and it was not but recognized how he was contaminated. He has been put in isolation at an area district hospital for monitoring and remedy.

A ministry staff collected samples from 12 individuals from the lifeless lady’s village recognized to have had direct contact along with her, and laboratory checks confirmed Friday that solely her father was contaminated.

Health professionals have expressed concern a few wave of hen flu that has unfold worldwide previously yr and a half, however take into account the present danger to people to be low.

Ducks in the Cambodian village where a girl contracted bird flu.
Ducks within the Cambodian village the place a lady contracted hen flu. (AP)

“There is always a risk of human infection, particularly in people in close contact with poultry or wild birds, and this risk increases during times where circulation of avian influenza is particularly high, as it is now,” Jonathan Ball, professor of molecular virology at England’s University of Nottingham, stated in an emailed assertion.

“Thankfully, human infections are still rare, and the likelihood of onward human-to-human transmission very low. But this virus keeps cropping up in various mammals and this could potentially increase the possibility of further human infections. The risk to humans is still very low, but it’s important that we continue to monitor circulation of flu in both bird and mammal populations and do everything we can to reduce the number of infections seen,” Ball added.

According to the World Health Organisation, there have been 56 hen flu circumstances in people in Cambodia from 2003 till 2014, and 37 of them have been deadly. Globally, about 870 human infections and 457 deaths have been reported to the WHO in 21 nations, for an total case fatality fee of 53 per cent. But the tempo has slowed, and there have been about 170 infections and 50 deaths within the final seven years. In the overwhelming majority of circumstances, the contaminated individuals acquired it instantly from contaminated birds.

Bird flu as seen under a microscope.
Bird flu as seen below a microscope. (African CDC)

“Between 2005 and 2020, 246 million poultry died or were culled because of avian influenza,” says the World Organisation for Animal Health.

“Since October 2021, an unprecedented number of outbreaks has been reported in several regions of the world, reaching new geographical areas and causing devastating impacts on animal health and welfare,” the Paris-based company says on its web site.

The US Centres for Disease Control and Prevention agrees that the present H5N1 outbreak is generally an animal well being difficulty.

“However, people should avoid direct and close contact with sick or dead wild birds, poultry, and wild animals,” it warns on its website.

“People should not consume uncooked or undercooked poultry or poultry products, including raw eggs. Consuming properly cooked poultry, poultry products, and eggs is safe.”

Gallery: Spanish Flu, the pandemic of 1919

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Source: www.9news.com.au