An immediate notification was sent to the World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE) reporting that the causal agent has been identified as the HPAI virus, serotype H5N1.

The presence of the HPAI virus was confirmed after real-time PCR tests were conducted at the National Veterinary Research Institute (NaVRI) on 14 August and again at the Pasteur Institute of Cambodia (the OIE's regional reference laboratory) on 15 August.

A total of 2000 birds were found susceptible, out of which 1346 cases and deaths were reported. The remaining 654 birds were destroyed.

According to the OIE, on 10 August, after receiving information from the Ministry of Health about a girl aged seven living in Damnak Dangkor village who was reported infected with H5N1, an investigation team of the National Veterinary Research Institute (NaVRI) of the Department of Animal Health and Production (DAHP) and provincial veterinary services went to the village to investigate and take some samples from local chicken. The test results were confirmed positive for H5N1.

The source of the outbreak remains inconclusive.

Further Reading

You can visit the Avian Flu page by clicking here.