EpiCore, I've recently learned, is a volunteer epidemic-intelligence group that checks reports of outbreaks in different parts of the world. Here's their latest, from March 29: Epicore: Avian influenza (A/H5N1)--Prey Veng, Cambodia.
Media quoting national health authorities have recently confirmed that the mass bird deaths reported in mid-March in Tuolporn Taley Boeung Sne protected area (Ba Phnom district, Prey Veng province) were due to highly pathogenic avian influenza (A/H5N1). Response activities have been implemented and the community has been asked to keep the environment around their homes clean and to report unusual deaths of poultry, as the virus could be transmitted to domestic animals as well.
An RFI was sent to EpiCore members to get any update about this officially confirmed and ongoing event, in particular details on the investigation and if there is any report of similar events, in the surrounding, in poultry or wild birds.
The EpiCore network has added details about the ongoing response activities in the country. Currently the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries and the Ministry of Health are closely following the situation and collaborating through a common Technical Working Group on Zoonotic diseases. A joint field investigation is ongoing, and information collected from the two sectors is regularly shared. So far there have been no other unusual events reported in births in the area and the import/export within a 3 km radius has been suspended by the animal health authorities that are monitoring the bordering areas as well. In addition, community members and vets have already isolated and destroyed almost 2,000 bird carcasses since the first report.
From a human health side, as of today there has been no report of any suspected cases in the surrounding areas. The early detection of potential cases is based on direct reports through the MOH hotline phone service (115) of exposed people in the area presenting ILI/SARI signs, with immediate lab testing of samples collected to rule out A(H5N1). In addition, routine sentinel surveillance activities for ILI and SARI are regularly ongoing in the country. More information is available in Khmer on the MOH website (cdcmoh.gov.kh).
The RFI has been supported with useful details that have provided an update about the current situation. In case of more information provided in the coming days/weeks this summary will be updated.
