When a chicken, duck, or bird, whether domesticated or wild, dies and the cause is unknown, please do not be sad and do not use it to cook because it can be a source of bird flu virus that can kill us.
In general, according to the customs of rural villagers, when a chicken or duck dies, they often mourn it and use it to cook. But these days, dead chickens, ducks, or geese can carry the bird flu virus that can be transmitted to humans and can kill us.
As of Monday, a 41-year-old woman has fallen ill with the disease. The woman is known to be a resident of Lwek village, Daun Kaeo commune, Puok district, Siem Reap province. The victim was found to have contracted the H5N1 bird flu after her sample was sent for confirmation at the National Institute of Public Health on June 23, 2025. The woman has symptoms of fever, cough, fatigue and difficulty breathing.
According to inquiries at the patient’s home and at the neighbor’s home, there were cases of sick and dead chickens and the patient had handled and touched sick chickens. And then cooked for 5 days before the patient started to get sick.
This patient is not a new case of the H5N1 virus. The patient is a victim because on June 12, a 65-year-old woman living in Kraing Ampil village, Taing Yap commune, Prey Kabbas district, Takeo province, was also infected with bird flu.
Separately, since the beginning of 2025, 4 people have died from bird flu. The first case occurred in January, involving a 28-year-old man in Kampong Cham province, the second in Prey Veng province in February, the third in an 11-year-old boy in Kampong Speu province in May, and the fourth in a 52-year-old man in Svay Rieng province who died on June 19, 2025.
According to the World Health Organization, as of February 2025, there were 972 cases of the virus, of which 468 people died. This virus is found in many birds, but if it is transmitted to humans, the mortality rate is high, but fortunately there have been no cases of human-to-human transmission yet.
To prevent and protect yourself from this disease, do not touch or eat sick or dead chickens or ducks, and when cooking, cook them well. In particular, when cooking, wear gloves and a mask and cook them well. People who like to eat hard-boiled eggs should avoid them. Storage: Store cooked foods away from raw foods, especially poultry. If you develop a fever, cough, runny nose, or difficulty breathing, please seek immediate medical attention after suspecting contact with a sick bird.
