Awwal 02, 1432 / April 06, 2011, SPA -- Cambodia's Ministry of Health and the World Health Organization announced Wednesday that an 11- year old girl from the eastern province of Kompong Cham has died of avian influenza H5N1. A joint statement sent to the media said the 11-year old girl from Kbal Au Village, Steung Trang District, Kompong Cham province died on March 31 as a result of respiratory complications after contracting human avian influenza virus H5N1. "The girl is the 14th person in Cambodia to become infected with the H5N1 virus and the tenth to die from complications of the disease," Xinhua quoted the statement as saying. The patient became sick on March 22 and she was initially treated by local villagers with no effect and was admitted to a local hospital on March 29 before she was later on March 31 sent to a hospital in Siem Reap province where she died just four hours after admission. "Avian influenza is still a threat to the health of Cambodians - early identification of potential patients is the fastest way of ensuring they can have correct treatment," said Minister of Health Mam Bunheng. "I urge communities to be on the look-out for respiratory infection with history of contact with dead or sick poultry to promptly seek medical attention at the nearest health facilities," he added.
