Issue, 28, Avian Influenza, published on September 2006.

Avian Influenza

Avian influenza first emerged in Hong Kong in 1997 but has since spread throughout Asia and to Europe and Africa. At the time this editorial was written, 144 people world-wide had died from avian influenza and over 200 million birds, primarily ducks and chickens, had been culled in an effort to prevent the animal disease from spreading and mutating into a human disease. Though Cambodia is in the region that has been most affected by avian influenza, we have been fortunate to only have 6 confirmed human deaths thus far. But history shows that the threat of a global pandemic is real. In 1918 the world was struck by a pandemic flu which killed between 20 million and 40 million people world-wide. This strain of flu was recently identified as a mutation of an avian influenza, thus we must take the threat from the H5N1 strain seriously to prevent it from mutating into a human disease and spreading within Cambodia and beyond.

The Royal Government of Cambodia has recognized the urgent need to move quickly to prevent the spread of avian influenza in Cambodia. Under the coordination of the National Committee for Disaster Management, the Ministry of Health and Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries are providing the leadership needed to prevent further spread of avian influenza and making preparations to ensure our country is prepared to respond in the event of a widespread outbreak. Through funding and technical assistance from the USA, Japan, Germany, Australia and others, international organizations, including the WHO, UNICEF, and FAO, are working in partnership with the Royal Government of Cambodia and community based non-governmental organizations on prevention and pandemic preparedness measures.

This issue of Health Messenger provides an overview of avian influenza. It highlights your government’s recommended priority behaviors for prevention of transmission of avian influenza between animals and from animals to humans. It also discusses how health personnel, for both humans and animals, must respond to suspect and confirmed human and animal cases of avian influenza to minimize the risk of further spread. The protective measures we put in place now will prepare us for future threats from unknown diseases, and may also reduce the sickness and death currently caused by respiratory infections and diarrhea.

By working together we will be able to protect the people of Cambodia from the threat of avian influenza. Thank you for your commitment and service.