The tourist resort town of Siem Reap has recorded its first cases of H1N1 virus, sometimes called swine flu, though to date none has died from the disease in the country.
Health officials say an American family of four, one man and three women, tested positive for the virus, which emerged earlier this year in Mexico and has spread into a pandemic—albeit with low mortality rates.
The American family, identified Wednesday, work in Siem Reap and tested positive after returning from Bangkok, said Ly Sovann, deputy director of the communicable disease department of the Ministry of Health.
Also on Wednesday, an Irish man tested positive in Phnom Penh after he was identified as suspect by scanners at Phnom Penh International Airport.
The five new cases bring Cambodia’s H1N1 total to 14, eight of which have come through Thailand. The disease has infected tens of thousands of people worldwide, killing more than 400.
Ly Sovann encouraged people coming in from abroad to report to authorities any fever, cough, sore throat or breathing difficulties. The H1N1 hotline number is 115; authorities can be reached at 012 488 981 or 089 669 567.