Cambodian health officials strengthen avian flu awareness campaigns after 2 more deaths

"Two more children have died in Cambodia of bird flu, bringing the number of fatal cases this year to four and the number of cases overall to five," the Associated Press/Wall Street Journal reports, noting only three cases were reported in all of 2012. "WHO says bird flu, also known as avian influenza, or H5N1, has killed 360 other people worldwide since surfacing in 2003," with most cases "linked to contact with infected poultry," the news agency writes (1/29). "Health authorities in Cambodia will bolster public awareness campaigns on H5N1 avian influenza," according to IRIN. "Ongoing public awareness campaigns need to be reinforced through TV and radio," Sok Touch, director of Cambodia's Communicable Disease Control Department, said, adding, "We're planning on doing this immediately as there is no room for complacency," the news service notes (1/28).