The number of confirmed swine flu cases in Cambodia has risen to 88, the Ministry of Health announced last week.

The latest figure, released on Thursday, represents a significant climb over the previous tally of 68 cases reported before September 16. So far, no deaths from the influenza A(H1N1) virus, commonly known as swine flu, have been reported in the Kingdom.

Dr Sok Touch, director of the ministry’s Communicable Disease Control Department, said Sunday that health officials were closely following the spread of the virus, which has now been reported in six Cambodian provinces: Phnom Penh, Siem Reap, Kandal, Kampong Speo, Takeo and Battambang.

“The highest rates of swine flu transmission are during the cool season, so right now we’re monitoring the situation more strictly than ever”, Sok Touch said.

To help prevent the spread of the disease, the Ministry of Health recommends that people wash their hands frequently, refrain from spitting in public, use tissues or handkerchiefs and avoid crowds. A response from the World Bank to the Ministry’s recent request for US$2 million to buy vaccines is due next month.

Running totals compiled by the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) put the number of worldwide swine flu cases during the current outbreak at 424,731, with 4,636 deaths caused by the virus.