According to a news release issued by the Cambodian Ministry of Health on Wednesday, an 11-year-old boy from the Kampong Speu region of the nation passed away from H5N1 human avian influenza, making him the fourth person to die from the virus this year.

“A laboratory result from the Pasteur Institute of Cambodia showed on May 27, 2025, that the boy was positive for the H5N1 virus,” claimed the statement.

The unfortunate youngster resided in Srey Sampoung hamlet in Samraong Tong district.

“According to queries, chickens and ducks near the patient’s house had gotten sick and died subsequently a week before the boy fell ill,” the statement said.

To avoid a community epidemic, health officials are investigating the infection’s origin and assessing any suspected cases or those who have come into touch with the victim, the statement said.

According to Xinhua news agency, the Southeast Asian nation has documented four human instances of H5N1 so far this year, all of which have resulted in death. Prior to becoming ill, all of the patients allegedly had a history of recent contact to sick or dead poultry.

The influenza virus known as H5N1 often travels amongst ill birds, but it may also sometimes infect people. Fever, coughing, runny nose, and severe respiratory sickness are some of its symptoms.

The Ministry of Health said that bird flu still poses a hazard to public health and urged people to exercise additional caution and avoid eating sick or dead poultry.

According to the Ministry of Health, there have been 47 fatalities and 76 instances of H5N1 influenza infection in humans in the kingdom since 2003.

Since 2022, there have been more and more reports of influenza A(H5) viruses, notably influenza A(H5N1), causing fatal epidemics in animals. More outbreaks that have not been identified or reported are probably out there. In addition to outbreaks in seals, sea lions, and farmed fur animals, other domestic and wild species including foxes, bears, otters, raccoons, cats, dogs, cows, goats, and others have also been impacted.

Near contact with infected live or dead birds, or places polluted with the H5N1 virus, such as live bird markets, has been linked to almost all human instances of H5N1 virus infection. Humans have also sometimes acquired the disease from sick animals.