Cambodia 2026 H5N1 Cases (n=5)

[Commonground]

Cambodia records 1st human case of bird flu in 2026

​2026-02-14​
HNOM PENH, Feb. 14 (Xinhua) -- A 30-year-old man from southwest Cambodia's Kampot province had been confirmed positive for H5N1 human avian influenza, becoming the first case of this year, the Ministry of Health said in a statement on Saturday.

"The man had the symptoms of fever, cough and abdominal pain," the statement said. "With intensive care from a team of doctors, the patient has recovered and returned home on Feb. 14."

The victim lives in Meanrith village of Tuek Chhou district.
​
Investigations revealed that there were dead chickens at the patient's house and the dead chickens were cooked three days before he fell ill, according to the statement.

Health authorities are looking into the source of the infection and are examining any suspected cases or people who have been in contact with the victim in order to prevent an outbreak in the community.

Tamiflu (oseltamivir), an antiviral drug to prevent the bird flu from spreading, was also distributed to people who had direct contact with the ill-fated man, the statement said.

H5N1 influenza is a flu that normally spreads between sick poultry, but it can sometimes spread from poultry to humans, and its symptoms include fever, cough, runny nose and severe respiratory illness.
​
https://english.news.cn/20260214/47753d2aabf948848b846725c32376cf/c.html

 

[sharon sanders]

Translated screenshot from MoH announcement:

https://www.facebook.com/MinistryofHealthofCambodia

 

[Michael Coston]

Updated Map 2023-2026

​

 

[sharon sanders]

Please see:

FluTrackers 2016+ Global H5N1/H5N5 Human Cases List​

 

[Michael Coston]

Cambodia MOH Announces 2nd H5N1 Case of 2026

#19,085

With thanks for the head's up from @E_A_Karlsson, we have the following announcement from Cambodia's Ministry of Health on their 2nd confirmed HPAI H5N1 human infection of 2026; this time involving a 45 y.o. woman from Banteay Meanchey Province who was hospitalized on March 14th.
The MOH announcement, along with the translation, follows:

A case of bird flu in a 45-year-old woman

The Ministry of Health of the Kingdom of Cambodia would like to inform the public that there is 1 case of bird flu in a 45-year-old woman who was confirmed to be positive for the H5N1 avian influenza virus on March 14, 2026 by the National Institute of Public Health. The patient lives in Ropai village, Chinu Meanchey commune, Preah Net Preah district, Banteay Meanchey province, and there have been reports of sick and dead chickens and ducks in the village. On the same day, the patient was placed in isolation at the hospital and treated with Tamiflu and received close medical care. Upon questioning, it was revealed that the patient raised chickens and ducks, some of which were sick and dead. Three days before testing positive, she had come into contact with the dead chickens.

The emergency response team of the national and sub-national ministries of health has been collaborating with the teams of the provincial agriculture departments and local authorities at all levels to actively investigate the outbreak of bird flu and respond according to technical methods and protocols, find the source of transmission in both animals and humans, and search for suspected cases and contacts to prevent further transmission in the community, as well as distribute Tamiflu to close contacts and conduct health education campaigns among residents in the affected villages.​

The Ministry of Health would like to remind all citizens to always pay attention to and be vigilant about bird flu because H5N1 bird flu continues to threaten the health of our citizens. We would also like to inform you that if you have a fever, cough, runny nose, or difficulty breathing and have a history of contact with sick or dead chickens or ducks within 14 days before the onset of symptoms, do not go to gatherings or crowded places and seek consultation and examination and treatment at the nearest health center or hospital immediately. Avoid delaying this, which puts you at high risk of eventual death.​

(Continue . . . .)

Just over 3 years ago an older clade of H5N1 (2.3.2.1.x) reemerged in Cambodia's population after a 9 year absence, spilling over into 6 humans in 2023, 10 people in 2024, and 18 people in 2025.

The majority of these cases have been in children and adolescents, and sadly, > 40% have died. Contact with sick or dead poultry has often been cited as the source of infection.​

Unlike H5N1 cases reported in the United States - which are due to a milder clade 2.3.4.4b - recent Cambodian cases have been caused by a new reassortment of an older clade of the H5N1 virus (recently renamed 2.3.2.1e) - which appears to be spreading rapidly through both wild birds and local poultry.



While we tend to focus primarily on clade 2.3.4.4b H5N1 viruses which have become endemic in North and South America, Europe,and much of Asia - other incarnations of HPAI H5 are circulating around the globe - and new ones continue to emerge; with each on their own evolutionary trajectory.

In addition to this very active Cambodia lineage of H5N1, some of the other HPAI H5 contenders we are following include:

South Korea: H5N9 Rising

Viruses: Novel Reassortant H5N2 Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza Viruses from Backyard Poultry in Mexico

Preprint: Emergence of a Novel Reassorted HPAI A(H5N2) Virus Associated with Severe Pneumonia in a Young Adult

Washington State DOH: H5N5 Avian influenza confirmed in Grays Harbor County resident

Preprint: HPAI A (H5N1) Clade 2.3.2.1a Virus Infection in 2 Domestic Cats, India, 2025​

EID Journal: Influenza A(H5N1) Virus Clade 2.3.2.1a in Traveler Returning to Australia from India, 2024​

Exactly where H5Nx goes from here is anyone's guess. Some strains may lose virulence, while others may grow stronger. New variants may emerge, while others will likely fade away. The virus we see tomorrow may look quite different from the virus we see today.

The only thing we can say with any certainty is these viruses continue to evolve, and that their current trajectory is still on the ascendent.​

Which is a trend we ignore at our own considerable risk.

https://afludiary.blogspot.com/2026/03/cambodia-moh-announces-2nd-h5n1-case-of.html
​

 

[Lance]

​wahis.woah.org/#/in-review/7376

 

[Commonground]

March 20, 2026

Banteay Meanchey governor urges vigilance following H5N1 case

Banteay Meanchey Governor Um Reatrey has urged residents to remain vigilant and strictly adhere to health measures following a confirmed case of H5N1 avian influenza in the province. The warning comes after a 45-year-old woman in Preah Netr Preah district was diagnosed with the H5N1 strain, prompting authorities to increase public health awareness and response efforts.

Speaking yesterday at the provincial health department’s annual review meeting for 2025 and planning session for 2026, the governor instructed the provincial health department to intensify public outreach and education campaigns.​

He urged citizens to avoid direct contact with sick or dead poultry and strictly refrain from consuming them under any circumstances....
-snip-
Residents were also advised to maintain proper hygiene practices and to keep raw and cooked food separate to avoid cross-contamination. The governor further stressed that anyone experiencing symptoms such as fever, cough, runny nose or difficulty breathing—particularly in areas where poultry deaths have occurred—should seek immediate medical attention at the nearest health centre or hospital.​

He warned that delays in seeking treatment could significantly increase the risk of severe illness or death. Local authorities continue to monitor the situation closely while reinforcing preventive measures to contain any potential spread of the virus.

https://www.khmertimeskh.com/501865...governor-urges-vigilance-following-h5n1-case/

​

 

[Michael Coston]

Cambodian MOH Announces 3rd Human H5N1 Case of 2026

#19,102

With thanks for the head's up from @E_A_Karlsson, we have the following announcement from Cambodia's Ministry of Health on their 3rd confirmed HPAI H5N1 human infection of 2026 - and 37th in just over 3 years - this time involving a 3 y.o. child from Oddar Meanchey Province who was confirmed positive on March 29th.

The MOH announcement, along with the translation, follows:

Kingdom of Cambodia

Nation Religion King

Ministry of Health

Press Release

On A case of bird flu in a 3-year-old child

The Ministry of Health of the Kingdom of Cambodia would like to inform the public that there is 1 case of bird flu in a 3-year-old boy who was confirmed to be positive for the H5N1 avian influenza virus on March 29, 2026 by the National Institute of Public Health. The patient lives in Tumnup Thmey village, Beng commune, Banteay Ampil district, Oddar Meanchey province, and there have been reports of sick and dead chickens and ducks in the village. The patient has been isolated in hospital and is receiving intensive medical care. Upon investigation, it was revealed that the patient’s home has chickens and ducks, including some sick and dead chickens, which the child had played around.

The emergency response teams of the national and sub-national ministries of health have been collaborating with the teams of the provincial agriculture departments and local authorities at all levels to actively investigate the outbreak of bird flu and respond according to technical methods and protocols, find the source of transmission in both animals and humans, and search for suspected cases and contacts to prevent further transmission in the community, as well as distribute Tamiflu to close contacts and conduct health education campaigns among residents in the affected villages.

The Ministry of Health would like to remind all citizens to always pay attention to and be vigilant about bird flu because H5N1 bird flu continues to threaten the health of our citizens. We would also like to inform you that if you have a fever, cough, runny nose, or difficulty breathing and have a history of contact with sick or dead chickens or ducks within 14 days before the onset of symptoms, do not go to gatherings or crowded places and seek consultation and examination and treatment at the nearest health center or hospital immediately. Avoid delaying this, which puts you at high risk of eventual death.

How it is transmitted: H5N1 bird flu is a type of flu that is usually spread from sick birds to other birds, but it can sometimes be spread from birds to humans through close contact with sick or dead birds. Bird flu in humans is a serious illness that requires prompt hospital treatment. Although it is not easily transmitted from person to person, if it mutates, it can be contagious, just like seasonal flu.

1/2

Address: Lot No. 80, Samdech Pen Nut Street (289)

Sangkat Boeung Kak 2, Khan Toul Kork, Phnom Penh

Phone: (+855) 23 885 970

Email: info@moh.gov.kh

Website: www.moh.gov.kh
​

It was over 3 years ago that an older clade of H5N1 (2.3.2.1.x) reemerged in Cambodia's population after a 9 year absence, spilling over into 6 humans in 2023, 10 people in 2024, and 18 people in 2025.

Cambodia's recent cases are due toa new reassortment of an older clade of the H5N1 virus (recently renamed 2.3.2.1e) - which appears to be spreading rapidly through both wild birds and local poultry.

​

Unlike the newer clade 2.3.4.4b H5Nx viruses - which have shown much lower mortality rates in the United States - this older clade has proved fatal in about 40% of the cases reported by Cambodia since 2023.

There is currently no evidence to suggest human-to-human transmission of this H5 virus, with most cases reporting recent contact with sick or dead poultry.​

While we continue to focus primarily on clade 2.3.4.4b H5 viruses in the United States, these cases remind us that there are many other iterations of HPAI H5 circulating around the globe (see Viruses: Zoonotic Implications of the Co-Circulation of Clade 2.3.4.4b and 2.3.2.1a H5N1 Avian Influenza Viruses in Nepal in 2023), each on a different evolutionary trajectory.

And only one of them has to get lucky to made it a very bad day for the rest of us.

https://afludiary.blogspot.com/2026/03/cambodian-moh-announces-3rd-human-h5n1.html​

 

[sharon sanders]

Please see:

H5N1 / H5N5 Avian Flu: FluTrackers 2016 - Current Global Case List​

 

[Michael Coston]

Cambodian MOH Announces 4th Human H5N1 Case of 2026

#19,125

With thanks for the head's up from @E_A_Karlsson, we have the following announcement from Cambodia's Ministry of Health on their 4th confirmed HPAI H5N1 human infection of 2026 - and 38th in just over 3 years - this time involving a 66 y.o. woman from Svay Rieng province who had recent contact with sick chickens and was confirmed positive on March April 21st.

The MOH announcement, along with the translation, follow:

​

(Translation)

Kingdom of Cambodia
Nation Religion King
Ministry of Health

Press Release

On Bird flu case in 66-year-old woman

The Ministry of Health of the Kingdom of Cambodia would like to inform the public that there is 1 case of bird flu in a 66-year-old woman who was confirmed to be positive for the H5N1 avian influenza virus on April 21, 2026 by the National Institute of Public Health. The patient is a resident of Trapaing Thkov village, Pong Teuk commune, Romduol district, Svay Rieng province. The patient has been placed in isolation at the hospital and is receiving intensive medical care. Investigations revealed that from April 2 to 13, there were sick and dead chickens in the village and the patient’s house, which were used for cooking.

The emergency response teams of the national and sub-national ministries of health have been collaborating with the provincial agriculture departments and local authorities at all levels to actively investigate the outbreak of bird flu and respond according to technical methods and protocols, find sources of transmission in both animals and humans, and search for suspected cases and contacts to prevent further transmission in the community, as well as distribute Tamiflu to close contacts and conduct health education campaigns for citizens in the affected villages.

The Ministry of Health would like to remind all citizens to always pay attention to and be vigilant about bird flu because H5N1 bird flu continues to threaten the health of our citizens. We would also like to inform you that if you have a fever, cough, runny nose, or difficulty breathing and have a history of contact with sick or dead chickens or ducks within 14 days before the onset of symptoms, do not go to gatherings or crowded places and seek consultation and examination and treatment at the nearest health center or hospital immediately. Avoid delaying this, which puts you at high risk of eventual death.

How it is transmitted: H5N1 bird flu is a type of flu that is usually spread from sick birds to other birds, but it can sometimes be spread from birds to humans through close contact with sick or dead birds. Bird flu in humans is a serious illness that requires prompt hospital treatment. Although it is not easily transmitted from person to person, if it mutates, it can be contagious, just like seasonal flu.

1/2

Address: Lot No. 80, Samdech Pen Nut Street (289)
Sangkat Boeung Kak 2, Khan Toul Kork, Phnom Penh
Phone: (+855) 23 885 970
Email: info@moh.gov.kh
Website: www.moh.gov.kh ​

In February of 2023 an older clade of H5N1 (2.3.2.1.x) reemerged in Cambodia's population after a 9 year absence, spilling over into 6 humans in 2023, 10 people in 2024, and 18 people in 2025.

Cambodia's recent cases are due to a new reassortment of an older clade of the H5N1 virus (recently renamed 2.3.2.1e) - which appears to be spreading rapidly through both wild birds and local poultry.
​

Unlike the newer clade 2.3.4.4b H5Nx viruses - which have shown much lower mortality rates in the United States - this older clade has proved fatal in about 40% of the cases reported by Cambodia since 2023.

There is currently no evidence to suggest human-to-human transmission of this H5 virus, with most cases reporting recent contact with sick or dead poultry.​

As we discussed last July in Cambodia: Food Insecurity, Food Safety & H5N1 - despite repeated warnings to the public not to prepare or cook sick/dead poultry - scarce resources and hunger can sometimes drive people to take risks.

Last October Dr. Erik Karlsson (@eakarlsson.bsky.social‬) from the Institut Pasteur du Cambodge, Phnom Penh, Cambodia, - along with a long list of colleagues - published a brief letter in the NEJM on first 16 cases.

Among them were 4 `clusters' (Father/Daughter, two neighbors, 2 siblings, and 2 cousins living in the same household), 6 fatalities, and 12 cases < 18 years of age.​

While human-to-human transmission was considered, the available evidence suggests a `shared' exposure instead, with infected poultry the most likely source of infection.

Due to copyright, I can only post the title and link, but I would urge you to go to the NEJM site to read it in its entirety.​

Highly Recommended.

Resurgence of Zoonotic Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza A(H5N1) Virus in Cambodia
Published October 22, 2025
N Engl J Med 2025;393:1650-1652
DOI: 10.1056/NEJMc2504302
VOL. 393 NO. 16 Copyright © 2025​

​

https://afludiary.blogspot.com/2026/04/cambodian-moh-announces-4th-human-h5n1.html

 

[Commonground]

WHO Avian Influenza Weekly Update Number 1042
​Situation report
24 April 2026

Note: The reporting date of human infections included in this weekly update is based on the Event Information Site

(EIS) posting date, rather than the date of initial notification received through the International Health Regulations

(2005) (IHR).

Human infection with avian influenza A(H5) viruses

Human infection with avian influenza A(H5N1) virus

From 17 to 23 April 2026, no new case of human infection with avian influenza A(H5N1) virus was reported

to WHO in the Western Pacific Region. The last case was reported from Oddar Mean Chey Province,

Cambodia, with symptom onset on 28 March 2026.

From 1 January 2003 to 22 January 2026, a total of 481 cases of human infection with avian influenza

A(H5N1) virus have been reported from six countries within the Western Pacific Region (Table 1). Of these

cases, 319 were fatal, resulting in a case fatality rate (CFR) of 66.3%.
​
​
​continued: https://www.who.int/westernpacific/...influenza-weekly-update---1042--24-april-2026

 

[Commonground]

2026-07-11​
Cambodia confirms 5th human case of bird flu in 2026

PHNOM PENH, July 11 (Xinhua) -- A nine-month-old girl in Cambodia has tested positive for H5N1 avian influenza, marking the country's fifth human case of 2026, the Ministry of Health said in a statement late on Saturday.

The infant, from Prek Takong village, Meanchey district, Phnom Penh, was confirmed positive for the virus on Thursday, the statement said.

A team of doctors is providing the patient with intensive care, it added.

Health authorities "are investigating the infection's source and tracing contacts to prevent community transmission," the statement said.

H5N1 avian influenza, which typically circulates among poultry, can infect humans and cause symptoms ranging from fever and cough to severe respiratory illness.
​
The statement said that bird flu still threatens public health, urging people to avoid consuming sick or dead poultry and cook all poultry thoroughly

https://english.news.cn/20260711/5cb373d6e8124b7a9d120eeffb9c66ca/c.html

​

 

[sharon sanders]

2026-07-11​
Cambodia confirms 5th human case of bird flu in 2026

PHNOM PENH, July 11 (Xinhua) -- A nine-month-old girl in Cambodia has tested positive for H5N1 avian influenza, marking the country's fifth human case of 2026, the Ministry of Health said in a statement late on Saturday.

The infant, from Prek Takong village, Meanchey district, Phnom Penh, was confirmed positive for the virus on Thursday, the statement said.

A team of doctors is providing the patient with intensive care, it added.

Health authorities "are investigating the infection's source and tracing contacts to prevent community transmission," the statement said.

H5N1 avian influenza, which typically circulates among poultry, can infect humans and cause symptoms ranging from fever and cough to severe respiratory illness.
​
The statement said that bird flu still threatens public health, urging people to avoid consuming sick or dead poultry and cook all poultry thoroughly

https://english.news.cn/20260711/5cb373d6e8124b7a9d120eeffb9c66ca/c.html

​

​

https://www.facebook.com/MinistryofHealthofCambodia/

 

[Shiloh]

Source: https://postkhmer.com/national/news/949483


Kantha Bopha Hospital warns of H5N1 bird flu risk after saving 10-month-old baby's life
National news
18 July 2026 | 07:05 ICTHong Rasmey

​Phnom Penh: Kantha Bopha Hospital has appealed to the public not to touch or eat dead chickens and ducks after doctors saved the life of a 10-month-old baby girl who had severe pneumonia caused by the H5N1 bird flu virus and was able to return home safely after 10 days of treatment.

On Kantha Bopha Hospital's official social media page on July 18, the hospital warned that contact with or eating dead birds could lead to infection with the H5N1 virus, which can develop into severe pneumonia that is difficult to treat and poses a high risk to life.

The hospital called on the public to follow the Ministry of Health's preventive measures, especially when there are cases of dead chickens or ducks in the community, to reduce the risk of disease transmission to humans.

The hospital said: “The 10-month-old baby was admitted to the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU) of Kantha Bopha Hospital, Phnom Penh, with severe pneumonia after being infected with the H5N1 bird flu virus.”

After 10 days of intensive care from a team of specialized doctors, the little girl recovered and was able to return home with her parents with a smile.​..