Officials in Kandal and Kampong Speu are on high alert after an outbreak of avian influenza caused poultry to begin falling sick on Monday, according to announcements from the Ministry of Agriculture yesterday.

At least 20 birds have died in Oral district’s Trapaing Chor commune, said Say Panha, director of Kampong Speu’s agriculture department.

While preliminary investigations conducted by provincial officials indicate bird flu, no human cases have yet been reported, Panha said.

Bun Tuonsomona, director of Kandal’s agriculture department, declined to comment on how many birds had died in Koh Thom district’s Kampong Kong commune.

The Ministry of Health (MOH) has requested rapid response teams patrol both sites, WHO communications officer Vicky Houssiere said yesterday.