A 66-year-old woman from the country’s southeast Svay Rieng province had been confirmed positive for H5N1 human avian influenza, becoming the fourth case this year, the Ministry of Health said.
The victim, who lives in Trapaing Thkov village of Romduol district, was confirmed positive for the virus by the National Institute of Public Health on Tuesday.
The patient has currently been placed under quarantine at a hospital with intensive care from a team of doctors, a statement from the ministry said yesterday.
Health authorities are looking into the source of the infection and examining any suspected cases or people who have been in contact with the victim in order to prevent an outbreak in the community, the statement said, adding that an antiviral drug was also distributed to people who had direct contact with the ill-fated woman.
H5N1 influenza is a flu that normally spreads between sick poultry, but it can sometimes spread from poultry to humans, and its symptoms include fever, cough, a runny nose and severe respiratory illness. — Xinhua
