H5N1 outbreak: Cambodia reports 12th case this year; early symptoms to watch for
This is the 12th case of H5N1 infection from Cambodia, this year.
H5N1, also known as avian influenza or bird flu is originally found in birds, it has occasionally crossed over to humans, usually through close contact with infected poultry. Though rare, human infections tend to be serious and sometimes even deadly.
Despite its severity, many people are still unaware of how it presents in humans.
Here's what you should know.
It starts like any flu, but don't be fooled
The early signs of H5N1 infection can look just like the seasonal flu. That's why it often goes unnoticed in the beginning.
H5N1—also known as bird flu—isn't your average flu. It usually spreads from infected birds to people (think chickens, ducks, even cows lately), and while human cases are rare, they can be serious. So what should you watch out for if you've been around birds or on a farm?
At first, H5N1 can look a lot like the regular flu. You might get:
A high fever
Chills
Body aches
Cough
Runny nose
Sore throat
Sounds familiar, right? But here's where it gets intense:
For some people, symptoms ramp up quickly. That means:
Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing
Chest pain
Fatigue that wipes you out
Diarrhea, nausea, or even vomiting
And in some serious cases—confusion, seizures, or coma
Unlike seasonal flu, H5N1 often goes straight for the lungs.
by Taboola
by Taboola
Sponsored Links
Sponsored Links
Promoted Links
Promoted Links
You May Like
An engineer reveals: One simple trick to get internet without a subscription
Techno Mag
Learn More
Undo
It can cause pneumonia or even acute respiratory distress, which is why many people who get really sick end up in the ICU.
The tricky part? Symptoms can take 2 to 8 days to show up after exposure, so you might feel fine at first—then suddenly not.
H5N1 outbreak in the US
H5N1 bird flu has been spreading across U.S. farms since early 2024, with about 70 human cases—mostly from direct animal exposure—and a first fatality in Louisiana in January 2025.
The virus, especially the new D1.1 strain, has jumped into dairy cows, sparking concern over potential mutations that could boost human-to-human spread. While the CDC still rates overall risk as low, it warns that reduced surveillance and ongoing mammal infections make the situation unpredictable.
When should you see a doctor?
If you've recently handled poultry, been in live bird markets, or live in an area where bird flu has been reported, you need to be cautious even if your symptoms seem mild at first.
Seek medical attention immediately if:
Your fever doesn't go down after 48 hours
You're short of breath, or breathing feels harder than normal
You have chest pain or pressure
Your cough gets worse and includes blood
You feel confused, very sleepy, or unusually weak
You've had direct contact with birds in the past 10 days
Even if it turns out to be another illness, it's always better to rule out something serious early.
Treatment and why timing matters
It's also worth noting that antibiotics won't help, because H5N1 is caused by a virus, not bacteria. Only targeted antiviral treatment can assist, alongside rest, hydration, and hospital support in severe cases.
Pay attention to your body. If you feel worse than usual, if your symptoms escalate fast, or if you have any exposure to birds, don't wait it out. Get checked. Most of all, take your health seriously. Your body often tells you when something's wrong, you just have to listen closely.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Time of India
44 minutes ago
- Time of India
Foot lab at KGMU to aid rehab of differently abled
1 2 Lucknow: To enhance rehabilitation experience for persons with disabilities by offering more precise, effective and patient-friendly therapy options, Foot Lab and Virtual Reality Lab were inaugurated at King George's Medical University on Saturday. Unveiled on National Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Day, the facilities were inaugurated by KGMU Vice Chancellor Prof Soniya Nityanand at RALC limb centre. Virtual reality system for rehabilitation and foot pressure analysis system with insole fabrication will help to improve mobility and in accurate treatment. "The devices will help persons with disabilities overcome everyday challenges with confidence and independence," said Prof Nityanand. The labs will provide training to orthopaedic surgeons and will be equipped with technology based on virtual reality, for surgeons and resident doctors by overlaying simulated digital imagery through head-mounted displays. Head of PMR department, Prof Anil Kumar Gupta, said purpose of celebrating National PMR Day was to raise awareness about physical medicine and rehabilitation. "The specialty restores functionality and independence in people with physical impairment, illnesses, or injuries," he said. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Why seniors are rushing to get this Internet box – here's why! Techno Mag Learn More Undo Prof Dilip Kumar elaborated on facilities improving quality of life of individuals with physical disabilities and functional limitations. A poster competition saw participation of MBBS students, paramedical staff and nursing officers. A dedicated operation theatre for rehabilitation surgeries was allotted at Dr Ram Manohar Lohia Institute of Medical Sciences on the occasion, enabling in-house care for conditions like cerebral palsy and clubfoot, said Prof V S Gogia, head of PMR department. The event themed 'Prevent Disability Before It Happens', featured awareness sessions and poster contest. Chief Guest Dr A K Singh emphasised timely intervention, healthy lifestyle habits, and safety measures like helmets and seat belts to reduce risk of disability.
Time of India
44 minutes ago
- Time of India
Pune hospitals report rise in dengue cases after monsoon arrives early
Pune: The monsoon's arrival in May with heavy spells and the intermittent rain in June triggered an early start to dengue and chikungunya cases this year, doctors and data from Pune Municipal Corporation report. Between Jan and July 2, this year, Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) reported 264 suspected and 12 confirmed dengue cases. In June alone, there were 123 suspected cases and four confirmed cases (see box). The city also reported ten chikungunya cases for the same period. The highest dengue cases were from Aundh-Baner ward (43), followed by Nagar Road-Wadgaon Sheri ward (40) and Dhankawdi-Sahakarnagar ward which reported 26 cases. You Can Also Check: Pune AQI | Weather in Pune | Bank Holidays in Pune | Public Holidays in Pune Stagnating rainwater pools across the city are breeding grounds for Aedes mosquitoes that cause both diseases. Dr Rajesh Dighe, assistant health officer in PMC, said they began fogging and spraying of mosquito repellents early wherever a case was notified from any area. He added, "We have collected fines of Rs 1.58 lakh so far from people storing water where mosquitoes were breeding and issued more than 1,200 notices. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Buy Lifetime Office 365 prime software Download Undo Citizens must diligently follow the once-a-week dry day system which is most effective in controlling the breeding of mosquitoes. We have not reported any positive Zika or Japanese encephalitis case this year so far." Six private hospitals that TOI spoke to said that they are reporting a spike in dengue cases. Dr Arvind Patil, internal medicine specialist at Apollo Clinic, said they have noticed more than 20-30 children visiting the clinic for either viral fever or gastrointestinal issues in the past few weeks. "It is a 10% jump in the number of cases reported around this time as compared to the previous year." The uptick in cases has also led to a rise in admissions in some hospitals. Dr Mahendra Dadke, consultant of internal medicine at Jupiter Hospital, said there is a significant rise in patients with high-grade fever, severe body aches, headaches, retro-orbital pain, rashes, and in some cases, low platelet counts. "Hospitalizations have also gone up, especially in cases where platelet levels drop drastically or warning signs like abdominal pain, persistent vomiting, and lethargy are observed," he said. He added that there is a rise in dengue cases among children who are more vulnerable to complications like dehydration and bleeding. Inamdar Hospital has reported 14 dengue cases in the first week of June diagnosed with NS1 antigen test. "More kids are down with dengue as they play outside in the evening when Aedes aegypti mosquitoes are most active," consultant physician Dr Rekha Sharma said. Apollo Spectra's internal medicine expert Dr Aditya Deshmukh said, there is a 20% surge in dengue cases this June as compared to last year. "Patients are of all ages, and they are reporting symptoms such as high fever, severe body aches, headaches, nausea, and rashes. However, there have been no dengue-related deaths," he added. Dr Abhimanyu Sengupta, senior consultant in general paediatrics at Ankura Hospital for Women & Children, noticed a relatively early rise in dengue cases this year as compared to previous years, and children between 5-12 seem to be affected more. Why are 'suspected cases' more in number? There are two dengue tests in prevalence A central government notification mandates that results from IgM ELISA tests and NS1-ELISA tests be considered as confirmed dengue cases Patients who undergo the non-ELISA NS1 antigen test are suspected cases This variation leads to the low number of confirmed cases on govt records Deaths of those who underwent the antigen test are not recorded either Private hospitals mostly use the NS1 antigen test which give results in two to three days The gold-standard Elisa test takes seven to eight days after the onset of symptoms The quicker antigen test has poor sensitivity and specificity and hence patients administered this test are considered "suspected cases", experts said There is a 30-35% increase in dengue and fever cases this June compared to the last year. Usually, we see a rise cases about 15-20 days after the rains start. The early monsoon led to early stagnation of water where mosquitoes that spread dengue breed. Hence there are so many cases this June. Many patients this year reported fatigue, malaise, and lethargy, rather than the typical fever, rash, and joint pain usually associated with dengue. We are also seeing a significant increase in hospitalizations due to dehydration and low platelet count Dr Rizwan Malik I General physician at Medicover Hospital
Time of India
an hour ago
- Time of India
Partial knee surgery, not total, a good option for many patients, say orthopaedic surgeons from Mumbai
Mumbai: When former Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee underwent total knee replacement at Breach Candy Hospital 25 years ago, it was a rare operation that few Indians opted for at that time due to the fear of the unknown. Now, roughly 2.5 lakh Indians undergo knee replacement surgery every year. Considering that more Indians — from 23.46 million in 1990 to 62 million now — suffer from degenerative joint disease osteoarthritis, in which the protective cartilage cushioning the ends of bones wears down, the knee replacement numbers can only increase. In this backdrop, two orthopaedic surgeons from the city, Dr Amyn Rajani and Dr Arun Mullaji, have published separate research papers in indexed medical journals highlighting that total knee replacement, which entails cutting through ligament, cartilage, and bones, may not be the only alternative for patients. Their research articles highlight that partial knee replacement could be good enough for many Indians. The knee has three compartments: the medial (34%), lateral (33%), and patellofemoral (33%). Arthritis begins in the medial compartment, meaning 66% of the knee is normal and functional at this stage. "Nearly 50% of patients suffer from arthritis confined only to the medial compartment of the knee, meaning a full knee replacement may be unnecessary for them," said Dr Rajani. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like At Siemens Energy You Engage in a Global Network of Experts Siemens Energy Learn More Undo A total replacement for such patients means "unnecessarily removing the healthy 66% of the knee" and replacing it with an artificial implant. You Can Also Check: Mumbai AQI | Weather in Mumbai | Bank Holidays in Mumbai | Public Holidays in Mumbai His research paper in the Journal of Clinical Orthopaedics and Trauma looks at long-term five to nine years of follow-up of patients who underwent partial knee replacement. "The results are impressive, showing a survivorship rate of 96.85% over five years," said the doctor. The patients reported minimal pain, quicker return to daily activities, and could squat and sit cross-legged. Going by global estimates, roughly 70% of patients undergoing knee replacement will need the total option, while the remaining may only need partial replacement. "Only 12.7% of the Indian population is recommended surgical intervention for knee osteoarthritis, with well over 80% of those being total knee replacements. This shows that the number of medial unicompartmental knee replacements is low in India," said Dr Rajani. The doctors believe partial knee replacement is safer and, as it involves minimal cuts, recovery is faster. Dr Mullaji spoke about his first patient (now 78) who underwent a partial knee replacement and made it to the Limca Book of Records in 1997. "I followed her progress for 28 years, and she needed a revision last year mainly because of other degenerative diseases she developed in the interim," he said. Dr Mullaji, who completed over 4,000 partial knee replacements, said the technique is underutilised because few surgeons are trained in it and patients are unaware of it. "There also are some patients who are 'business-minded' and think a total knee replacement is better than partial," he said. Dr Mullaji's research paper, which was published online in the Journal of Orthopaedics on Saturday, reviewed the progress of 2,500 patients on whom he performed the partial knee replacement. "This study has established that leg alignment can be achieved with unicompartmental surgery," he said. Dr Mohan Desai, head of orthopaedics in BMC-run KEM Hospital in Parel, said there are specific criteria laid down for the selection of patients for partial knee replacement. It's recommended for patients who are younger (below 50), those with minimum damage due to disease, and older patients with other comorbidities such as heart disease that makes total replacement a riskier surgery. "There is a grey zone where some patients may have extended indications and may want total knee replacement," said Dr Desai, who regularly performs partial knee replacement using a robotic arm at KEM Hospital, Parel. Senior orthopaedic surgeon Dr Sanjay Agarwala said that the decision to do a partial knee replacement depends on the concerned surgeon's ability and belief. "Partial knee replacement doesn't always lead to correct alignment of the leg in many patients as patient selection and surgeon's training are of critical importance," he said. "Most patients coming to me have extensive disease and would need total knee replacement," said Dr Agarwala, who, incidentally, prefers other techniques such as high tibial osteotomy (a surgical procedure that realigns the knee joint by cutting and reshaping the tibia or the shin bone) to partial knee replacement. "Some patients with single compartment disease would benefit from splints and braces and not need a partial replacement," Dr Agarwala added.
