CONFIRMED BIRD FLU DEATH IN CAMBODIA

UNCLAS PHNOM PENH 000570 SIPDIS SIPDIS STATE FOR EAP/MLS AND OES/IHA DANIEL SINGER AND NATALIA COMELLA HHS FOR ASST SEC STEWART SIMONSON GENEVA FOR RMA E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: EAGR KFLU SENV AMED CB SUBJECT: CONFIRMED BIRD FLU DEATH IN CAMBODIA ¶1. Cambodia's Ministry of Health, together with the World Health Organization and the Pasteur Institute, has confirmed that a three-year-old girl died March 21 from avian influenza. The girl, who lived in the Kong Pisey district of Kampong Speu province, about 30 miles west of Phnom Penh, had reportedly been playing with sick birds a few days before she became ill with a fever on March 14. Her condition deteriorated rapidly on March 20 and she was taken to Kantha Bopha Hospital in Phnom Penh, where she died the next day. The Ministry has not yet released the girl's name nor the name of the village where she lived. ¶2. According to Dr. Sirenda Vong, the CDC-trained head of epidemiology at the Pasteur Institute, the Pasteur Institute laboratory confirmed last night that the child had been infected with avian influenza. The Pasteur Institute will send samples to the WHO collaborating center laboratory in Hong Kong for further testing. ¶3. A Ministry of Health/Pasteur Institute/WHO team is currently investigating the case. A check of area hospitals revealed no other patients suffering from symptoms and exposure patterns consistent with avian influenza. During a door to door village survey, the team identified 42 contacts and took samples from each. The investigation team is monitoring seven people: four individuals with mild fevers who had contact with the infected child and three other people with mild symptoms who had contact with poultry that had died near the village. Laboratory results from the suspected cases are expected to be available early next week. Villagers have told the team that there was a bird die-off in the village in February and March. ¶4. Post's CDC office will remain in close contact with the investigation team and is prepared to provide technical assistance, if requested. Mussomeli