THE total number of known A(H1N1) influenza cases in the Kingdom has increased to 101 as of September 30, according to health officials, who say the number is expected to continue rising steadily in the coming months.

Sok Touch, director of the Communicable Diseases Control Department at the Ministry of Health, said the number of people affected by the virus – more commonly known as swine flu – was growing, and that the ministry would release new statistics at the end of the week.

“We are continuing to monitor the virus closely nationwide,” Sok Touch said on Monday.

“Today the number [of infections] is more than 100, and we will reveal [new figures] at the end of this week.”

Govt issues tips

Cambodia’s first confirmed case of A(H1N1) was detected in a group of American students in June, but the country has since experienced only

one fatality from the disease, a 41-year old Cambodian woman who died on September 27.

Health officials have advised that to help prevent the spread of the disease, people should wash their hands frequently, refrain from spitting in public, use tissues or handkerchiefs and avoid crowds.

If any members of the public show any signs of swine flu symptoms, which include fevers above 38 degrees, coughing, headaches, muscle aches, sore throats, runny noses and lethargy, they are encouraged to alert the government by calling its swine flu hotline at 115, 012 488 981 or 089 669 567.