Cambodia’s Ministry of Health has confirmed a new human case of H5N1 avian influenza involving a 36-year-old woman living in Donkeo village, Donkeo commune, Puok district, in Siem Reap province.
According to the Ministry, the patient developed symptoms including fever, cough, fatigue and difficulty breathing. She is currently receiving intensive medical care. Laboratory testing by the Institut Pasteur du Cambodge confirmed the H5N1 infection on June 30.
Health officials say that prior to her illness, chickens at the woman’s home had become sick and died. She is reported to have had direct contact with the birds before burying them. Response teams from the Ministry of Health, along with agricultural officials and local authorities, are actively investigating the source and circumstances of the infection.
This is the eleventh case of H5N1 reported in Cambodia so far this year, and the fourth in Siem Reap province. The woman lives in close proximity to the locations of three previous cases.
The Ministry of Health has reiterated its call for the public to remain vigilant. People are urged to monitor for symptoms such as fever, cough, runny nose or shortness of breath, especially if they have had recent contact with sick or dead poultry within the past 14 days.
Officials advise anyone showing such symptoms to avoid crowded places and to seek immediate medical attention at the nearest health centre or hospital. Delays in treatment, they warn, could result in life-threatening complications.
The Ministry is also reminding the public to follow strict hygiene practices. This includes frequent handwashing, especially before handling food and after touching animals or animal waste. It is essential to properly cook all poultry meat and eggs before consumption.
According to health authorities, five people in Cambodia have died from H5N1 bird flu so far in 2025.
