PHNOM PENH, Oct. 17 (Xinhua) -- A three-year-old girl from western Cambodia's Kampong Speu province has been confirmed for H5N1 human avian influenza, raising the number of cases to 16 so far this year, the Ministry of Health said in a statement late on Thursday.
A laboratory result from the National Institute of Public Health showed on Oct. 15 that the little girl was positive for the H5N1 virus, the statement said.
The patient has the symptoms of fever, diarrhea, cough, and stomachache, and she is currently receiving intensive care from a team of doctors, it added.
The victim lives in Chek village of Basedth district.
Investigations found that chickens and ducks had gotten sick and died subsequently at the girl's and her neighbor's house about a week before the girl fell ill, the statement said.
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 distributed to people who had direct contact with the ill-fated girl, the statement said.
So far this year, the Southeast Asian country recorded a total of 16 human cases of H5N1 bird flu, with five deaths, according to the Ministry of Health. - Xinhua
