A youngster has become Cambodia’s fifth fatality from bird flu in a year (Picture: Getty)
A nine-year-old boy has died from a strain of deadly bird flu that has already made its way to the UK.
The youngster’s 16-year-old brother has also now tested positive for H5N1 which has been found in poultry and wild birds around Britain.
Although it primarily impacts birds it can jump from species to species including to humans through close contact with infected or dead animals.
The boy and his brother, from the north-eastern province of Kratie, Cambodia, both ate meals containing poultry that had died on their property, according to The Sun.
The nine-year-old’s death marks the Asian country’s ninth case and fifth fatality reported from H5N1 in less than a year.
That is the biggest 12 month total for any nation since 2015.
Caption: A worker carries chickens at a market in Phnom Penh on February 24, 2023 (Picture: TANG CHHIN SOTHY/AFP via Getty Images)
According to blog Avian Flu Diary, Cambodia’s Ministry of Health released a statement after the boy’s death.
The translation said: ‘The Ministry of Health of the Kingdom of Cambodia would like to inform the public that there is another case of bird flu in a nine-year-old boy and was confirmed positive for H5N1 bird flu virus (H5N1) from the National Institute.
‘Despite the care and rescue of doctors, due to the serious condition of the child, including fever, shortness of breath, cough and fainting, the child died on February 8, 2024.
‘According to the interrogation, at the patient’s house, five chickens and three ducks died and the chickens and ducks were eaten.’
Cambodia has been hit hard by avian flu in recent years (Picture: Bloomberg via Getty Images)
The statement went on: ‘The Ministry of Health would like to remind all citizens to be careful about bird flu because H5N1 bird flu continues to threaten the health of our people and also would like to inform you if there are symptoms.
‘Fever, cough, runny nose or shortness of breath and a history of contact with sick or dead chickens during the 14 days before the onset of symptoms, do not visit crowded places or seek consultation and examination.’
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