Daijiworld Media Network- Phnom Penh

Phnom Penh, Feb 26: A two-year-and-seven-month-old boy from Cambodia’s Prey Veng province has died due to the H5N1 avian influenza, marking the country's second fatality from the virus in 2025, the Ministry of Health confirmed on Tuesday.

A laboratory test conducted by the National Institute of Public Health confirmed that the toddler had tested positive for the H5N1 virus.

"Despite intensive medical care, the boy succumbed to the infection on Tuesday. His parents brought him to the hospital in a severe condition, exhibiting symptoms such as fever, cough, and difficulty breathing," the ministry said in an official statement.

The child, a resident of Ta Ngak village in Romchek commune, had been living near a family-run chicken farm. According to health authorities, approximately 15 chickens had recently died, while others showed signs of illness. The statement noted that the boy often played and slept beneath his family's stilt house, which was located close to the chicken coop.

Officials are investigating the source of the infection and actively monitoring people who had been in contact with the child to prevent any potential outbreak within the community.

H5N1 avian influenza primarily spreads among infected poultry but can occasionally transmit to humans. Common symptoms include fever, cough, runny nose, and severe respiratory distress, Xinhua news agency reported.

The Ministry of Health has urged the public to remain cautious and refrain from consuming sick or dead poultry, emphasizing that bird flu continues to pose a serious health risk.

Since 2003, Cambodia has recorded 74 human cases of H5N1, including 45 deaths. While infections in humans are rare, they often lead to severe illness with a high fatality rate. Most human cases are linked to close contact with infected birds or contaminated environments, and there is no evidence of sustained human-to-human transmission.