THE number of confirmed swine flu cases rose to 444 this week as the World Health Organisation announced Cambodia would receive 300,000 doses of (A)H1N1 flu vaccine by the end of November.

Ly Sovann, deputy director of the Communicable Diseases Control Department at the Ministry of Health, said that due to the limited amount of vaccines, they will be distributed to high-risk groups first.

He said priority will be given to health-care providers, followed by pregnant women and infants between the ages of 6 months and 2 years.

Health Minister Mam Bunheng explained Thursday that priority must be given to people who come into contact with the virus, commonly known as swine flu, on a daily basis.

“We are also concerned about others, but we have limited supplies, so we have to think about those who are high-risk first,” he said,

acknowledging that 300,000 doses of vaccine were not enough for the entire country.

Individuals experiencing symptoms such as high fevers (above 38 C), coughing, headache, muscle ache, sore throat and nose congestion are advised to call the ministry’s swine flu hotline on 115, 012 488 981 or 089 669 567.