Cambodias new outbreak of H5N1

PHNOM PENH, Aug. 12 (Xinhua) -- Cambodia has a new breakout of bird flu in poultry in southeast Prey Veng province, official in Ministry of Agriculture confirmed to Xinhua Saturday.

"There is bird flu outbreak in a village in Prey Veng province, about 20 km from Cambodia-Vietnamese border. More than 1,000 ducks got sick last week and died soon," Yim Venthan, secretary of state of Ministry of Agriculture said.

"Samples taken from the dead ducks were sent to Pasteur Institute in Phnom Penh for testing and they were confirmed positive for avian influenza virus on Friday," he added.

Kao Phal, director of the ministry's animal health department, said the outbreak was the virulent H5N1 type.

However, Yim Venthan called on people not to be panic.

"The authorities have taken measures, and no such virus have been found in other place in the country and no person has been found infected in bird flu so far," he said.

The H5N1 virus has killed at least 138 people since 2003, including six in Cambodia, according to the World Health Organization (WHO). Enditem