The Ministry of Health announced a second case of H5N1 bird flu following the death of an 11-year-old girl in Prey Veng province’s Sithor Kandal district on February 22.

The Ministry said the man, 49, was the father of the late girl who had been confirmed positive for H5N1. He is one of the 12 people who had direct contact with the patient.

The man’s condition is normal, without any notable symptoms.

H5N1 had not been found in Cambodia for nine years before the 58th and 59th cases were found on the girl and her father on February 23 and 24. 45 of the cases were found in children under age 14.

The ministry said that since 2005, a total of 59 cases have been found in humans and only 20 survived, including the 59th case thus far.

Expert officials, veterinarians and rapid response teams are working to search for the origin of the latest cases and tracing those who have been in contact with the patients, along with an educational prevention campaign.

Health minister Mam Bunheng called on the public to refrain from eating dead or sick birds and livestock, washing their hands with soap and eating only well-cooked foods. Should anyone have any suspicious symptoms, they should contact their nearest health officials and get testing and treatment immediately.