August 7, 2025
PHNOM PENH – A six-year-old girl from Takeo province has tested positive for bird flu and is currently in critical condition.
The Ministry of Health announced today, August 6, that the case of avian influenza (H5N1) was confirmed by the National Institute of Public Health on August 5, 2025.
Approximately 1,000 chickens reportedly fell and died in her village, Prey Mok, in Tram Kak district’s Sre Ronong commune. The patient exhibited symptoms of high fever, coughing, fatigue and breathing difficulties. She is currently receiving emergency intensive care.
“An investigation revealed that over the past month, nearly 1,000 chickens in the village became ill and died. In the girl’s household alone, 30 chickens became sick and died over the past 20 days. The girl’s mother had cooked the dead chickens the day before the child began showing symptoms,” the ministry said.
Rapid response teams from the national and sub-national levels of the health ministry are working with the provincial Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries to investigate the outbreak and coordinate a response.
This includes tracing the source of infection in both animals and humans, identifying additional suspected cases and close contacts, and distributing Tamiflu to those exposed. Public health education campaigns are also being conducted in the affected village.
The ministry reiterated its warning to the public to remain vigilant about the ongoing threat of avian influenza (H5N1), which continues to pose a serious risk to public health.
The ministry advised that if anyone develops fever, cough, a runny nose or breathing difficulties — especially if they have had recent exposure to sick or dead poultry within the past 14 days — they should avoid crowded areas and immediately seek consultation and treatment at the nearest health centre or hospital, to avoid delays that could result in life-threatening complications.