Cambodia orders action to stop deadly bird flu following surge in fatalities
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A Cambodian worker sits behind ducks at a market in Phnom Penh on Friday, March 1, 2013. Phnom Penh on Friday ordered urgent action to stem the "worrying" number of bird flu deaths in Cambodia, following a surge in the number of fatalities from the virus. -- PHOTO: AFP
PHNOM PENH (AFP) - Phnom Penh on Friday ordered urgent action to stem the "worrying" number of bird flu deaths in Cambodia, following a surge in the number of fatalities from the virus.
Prime Minister Hun Sen issued a directive for police, agriculture and health departments to join forces to combat the virus, which has killed eight people since the beginning of the year - the worst recorded outbreak in a nation that has seen a total of 27 bird flu deaths in a decade.
"Although there have been preventive measures taken by specialist institutions, the spread and the rate of human deaths from bird flu are at worrying levels," the order said.
The latest fatality was a 35-year-old man who died this week after eating infected duck.
