An eight-year-old girl from Cambodia's eastern Kampong Thom province has been confirmed for the H5N1 virus, bringing the number of the cases to 21 so far this year.

The little girl was confirmed positive for human H5N1 avian influenza last week after she was admitted to the Jayavarman VII Hospital in Siem Reap province with fever, cough, vomiting and dyspnea, the World Health Organisation and the Cambodian Health Ministry said in a joint statement on October 22.

Earlier, she came into direct contact with dead poultry, it added.

The girl has been treated with Tamiflu and her condition is now stable, it said.

This is one of the 10 cases survived in Cambodia this year.

Avian influenza H5N1 remains a serious threat to the health of all Cambodians, and children seem to be most vulnerable and are at high risk, Health Minister Mam Bunheng said.

He urged parents to keep children away from sick or dead poultry and make sure children wash their hands with soap and water after any contact with poultry.

Cambodia sees the worst outbreak of the virus this year since it was first identified in 2004. To date, the country has recorded 42 human cases of the virus which has killed 30 people.-VNA