The Ministry of Health on Aug. 20 confirmed the death of a 15-year-old girl who had been infected by the avian flu virus H5N1.
According to the investigation conducted by the victim's family and friends in the village of Por Mrenh in Prey Veng Province’s Kanh Chriech District, she had been in contact with dead chickens given to her family and then cooked in order to be eaten.
In early July, a similar case of contamination following contact with dead animals with the intention of eating them had involved a 5-year-old girl in Takeo Province, fortunately not resulting in a fatal outcome.
Following that case, which was the seventh recorded in the country from January to July, Koy Vanny, spokesman for the Ministry of Health, on July 8 had reminded people that, “[t]o prevent infection, it is important for people to practice preventive measures such as frequent handwashing with soap and water, especially after contact with birds.”
The death that occurred on Aug. 20 shows that this message had not reached people in that village of Prey Veng Province where lived the young victim.
Thought needs to be given to this communication failure and its cause.
Was it simply not heard? Or was it misunderstood? Was it believed that, once the animals were dead, the virus was also dead and that they could be handled without risk in order to be eaten?
The investigation by the authorities should not be limited to the source of contamination in order to contain it. If it does not reveal the flaws in the transmission of the prevention messages in order to remedy the situation, the investigation will not contribute any information regarding public health management.
