Sunday, September 03, 2006

Cambodian authorities give bird flu all clear, but remain on alert

Sep 2, 2006
Deutsche Presse-Agentur

Phnom Penh - Health authorities have ended a two-week observation period on three Cambodian communities where the H5N1 strain of bird flu was detected earlier this month, saying Saturday they were satisfied no humans have contracted the virus.

However, World Health Organization epidemiologist Megge Miller said the appearance of the virus in a season formerly seen as a lower-risk period meant that avian influenza must now be seen as endemic and officials must remain in a constant state of alert.

'When I say endemic, I mean that in the sense that it seems that it is now always present,' she said, adding that too little was known about the disease yet to be sure it was not capable of lying dormant in some bird populations.

She said ministry of health officials had tested more than 10 people after an outbreak in southern Prey Veng province was reported in ducks on August 14.

Two districts in neighbouring Kampong Cham province subsequently also reported the virus and more than 2000 ducks died there when farmers smuggled poultry out of the first infected area in an attempt to salvage their assets before they were culled.

Miller said the observation period for Prey Veng ended on August 26 and for Kampong Cham on August 29, taking in two incubation periods for the virus since its first detection, and all tests on humans had been negative.

Agriculture Ministry officials have said they will continue to observe poultry in the area for at least a month after the outbreak was detected.

'However, what this latest outbreak shows us is that we can't relax. We have to be on our guard all the time against this virus,' Miller said.

Cambodia has suffered six confirmed bird flu deaths, with the most recent being a 12-year-old boy in April.

No comments: