A 5-year-old girl from Takeo province and a 2-year-old girl from Kampot province – who has already died – mark the 19th and 20th confirmed cases of avian influenza this year, a hospital spokesman said.

“The 2-year-old from Kampot was in very serious condition when she arrived and died yesterday after only two days in hospital,” said Dr Denis Laurent, a spokesman for Kantha Bopha Hospital in Phnom Penh.

“We’re worried that many cases seem to be originating in Kampot,” Dr Laurent added.

More than half of the confirmed cases in Cambodia were children under 14 and by in large most victims of the disease have been young girls.

Already, nearly half of the total cases since the disease was first uncovered in Cambodia in 2004 have been found this year alone. Of 20 cases recorded this year, 13 have proven to be fatal.

The Ministry of Health is expected to issue a statement on the cases today.