Bird flu detected in Prey Veng

Kuoch Masy | Publication date 15 February 2018 | 20:26 ICT

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Chickens and ducks for sale at Phnom Penh's Orussey Market in 2016. Hong Menea

A moratorium on the movement of chickens, dead or alive, has been put into effect in a commune of Prey Veng's Ba Phnom district after a chicken sample tested positive for A1H5N1 bird flu, the provincial Department of Agriculture, Forests and Fisheries said today.

The infected bird originated from Prey Phdao village and was one among 100 tested from Sdao Korng commune, according to department director Ouk Samnang, who said that the Ministry of Agriculture had ordered the spray of suspected areas with disinfectant as well as a halt in the movement of birds throughout the commune.

“Trafficking of animals in the area has to be prevented in order not to spread this disease to other places,” Samnang said.

The ban will remain in effect until authorities see fit to lift it, he noted, adding that no human cases have been found.

Multiple calls to Health Ministry spokesman Ly Sovann went unanswered.

Last month, 135 chickens were culled in Phnom Penh's Sen Sok district as a preventative measure after a suspected case was found. Similarly, in December over 200 chickens were culled in Kampong Cham's Prey Chhor district.