Hanoi (VNA)𓂃 – A three-and-a-half-year-old boy from northeast Cambodia's Kratie province has died from H5N1 avian influenza, marking the third human death from the virus so far this year, the country’s Ministry of Health reported.

According to the ministry, the boy died on March 23, a day after being hospitalised with critical conditions. The boy developed the symptoms of fever, cough, and dyspnea. His family raised chickens and about five chickens had died while some others were sick. His family members cooked the dead poultry for food. Health authorities are looking into the source of the infection and are examining any suspected cases or people who have been in contact with the patient in order to prevent an outbreak in the community. H5N1 influenza normally spreads between sick poultry, but it can sometimes spread from poultry to humans. Its symptoms include fever, cough, runny nose, and severe respiratory illness. The ministry said bird flu still poses threat to people's health, particularly children, calling on people not to eat ill or dead poultry. Since 2003, 75 cases of human infection with H5N1 influenza, including 46 deaths, have been recorded in Cambodia./.