H5N1 Virus: An 11-Year-old Girl in Cambodia Has Died and First Known Human Infection Since 2014

An 11-year-old girl in Cambodia has died from the country's first known human case of bird flu in nine years, health authorities have confirmed.

With such a high fever, a cough, and a sore throat, she had become recently.

Her father had indeed tested positive, according to the health ministry of Cambodia, and 11 other people had also been tested, a per the BBC.

According to Mam Bunheng, the minister of health, the H5N1 virus had not been identified in humans in Cambodia since 2014 until this past Thursday.

Cambodian girl dies from H5N1 in unusual bird flu case

(Photo : Sarah Kerver/Getty Images for CMT)

Many dead birds that were found close to the girl's village have had samples taken by officials.

The public has also been cautioned by health experts to avoid handling ill or dead birds.

The most recent case of avian flu in Cambodia was in 2014.

There were 56 human instances of H5N1 infections reported in the ten years prior, 37 of which were deadly.

Although humans lack the receptors in their throats, nostrils, and upper respiratory tracts that make them susceptible to the present viral strain, human cases of bird flu are uncommon.

Working with infected chickens increases the risk of infection for those involved.

Around 193 million more domestic birds have been slaughtered in addition to the nearly 15 million domestic birds, including poultry, who have perished from the illness.

The virus had affected mammals like minks and otters as well.

The virus will need to be followed closely, according to the World Health Organization, in order to determine whether it is evolving into a form that may spread among humans.

Also Read: Bird Flu Outbreak Reaches Global Threat, No Signs of Slowing Down [Report]

A great treatment for the H5N1 flu

H5N1 has the capacity to endure for long stretches of time.

For up to ten days, H5N1-infected birds continue to expel the virus in their feces and saliva.

The infection can spread by touching infected surfaces, as per healthline.

Treatment with antiviral drugs such as oseltamivir (Tamiflu) or zanamivir (Relenza) can frequently help lessen the severity of the illness.

However, the drug must be consumed within 48 hours of the onset of symptoms.

The virus responsible for the human form of the flu can acquire resistance to the two most common kinds of antiviral drugs, amantadine and rimantadine (Flumadine).

The sickness should not be treated with these drugs.

Even if they are healthy, members of your family or those who are near you may be given antivirals as a prophylactic step.

To prevent you from spreading the infection to others, you will be put in isolation.

If you get a serious infection, your doctor might put you on a breathing machine.

Be protected from bird flu through vaccination

Your doctor could advise getting vaccinated against the flu to prevent contracting the human influenza strain.

It's possible to contract a brand-new, potentially fatal strain of the flu if you contract both the human and bird flu at the same time.

The FDA has licensed anti-avian flu vaccination, however, it is not yet widely accessible to the general public.

If H5N1 starts to spread among people, experts advise using the vaccination.

Related Article: 29,000 Turkeys Killed to Prevent a Highly Pathogenic Strain of Bird Flu in the U.S.