Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza Virus (H5N1) Outbreak in Captive Wild Birds and Cats, Cambodia

From December 2003through January 2004, the Phnom Tamao Wildlife Rescue Centre, Cambodia, was affected by the highly pathogenic infl uenza virus (H5N1).Birds from 26 species died.Infl uenza virus subtype H5N1 was detected in 6 of 7 species tested.Cats from 5 of 7 species were probably infected; none died.O n January 24, 2004, the fi rst confi rmed outbreak of highly pathogenic avian infl uenza virus (HPAIV) subtype H5N1 in Cambodia was reported to the Offi ce International des Epizooties (1).During the previous month, an unusually high mortality rate had been noted among captive wild birds at the Phnom Tamao Wildlife Rescue Centre (PTWRC) in Takeo Province, 45 km South from Phnom Penh.We report the results of a retrospective investigation of this outbreak.