“The rate of infection had been slow in the first five months of the year, and had begun increasing significantly in Ju,” Ly Sovann, deputy director of the department, was quoted by the Post as saying.

He added that “in Cambodia, the flu season starts when the rainy seasons starts, so usually from May or June, you see an increasing number of people with flu. You’re going to get more people with flu anyway.”

A(H1N1) influenza virus has first detected in the Cambodia in June 2009, and contacted six fatalities, causing 18-month-old boy died in December.

The global economic recession hit Cambodia’s sectors such as garment industries, real estate and construction and tourism sector. Recently, the out-break of Swine flu is fearing foreign tourists to travel to Cambodia.

More than one year-long border dispute between Cambodia and Thailand is also affecting trade and tourism as well. Tourists cannot enter within Cambodia to visit the temple from Thailand after armed row between the both nations.

The Phnom Penh Post quoted Kong Vibol, director of Preah Vihear province’s Tourism Department as saying that only 12,214 tourists travel to the temple complex over the last quarter, down 33.93 percent from 18,487 visitors over the same period a year earlier.

Foreign visitors were down 44.6 percent to 426, and domestic tourists dropped 34.04 percent to 11,788, Tourism Department figures showed, said he.

“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,” the Phnom Penh Post quoted Sok Touch, director of the Communicable Disease Control Department at the Health Ministry, as saying.

The first case of A(H1N1) was known when a group of American students was tested this virus in June.

Recently, a 41-year old woman living in Phnom Penh died from the infection of influenza on September 27.

In order to prevent the spread of the disease, people should wash their hands frequently, refrain from spiting in public, use tissue or handkerchiefs and avoid crowds.

The World Health Organization estimates more than 340,000 confirmed cases of A H1N1 worldwide and more than 41,000 deaths, VOA reported.

Ly Sovann, deputy director of the Communicable Disease Control Department at the Ministry of Health, was quoted by the Post as saying that “she is fine, but we asked her to stay for a week so that we could monitor her health.”

“So far, nobody has died in the country,” said Sovann. The latest person is in a stable condition and is recovering well, reported Xinhua.

Recently, the Ministry of Health has been strengthening the tracking system at two main airports, Phnom Penh International Airport and Siem Reap International Airport by using thermal scanners.

Additionally, Cambodia’s government also asked for Cambodians delay to travel to Thailand, because there are the growing numbers of swine flu in Thailand.

The American student was first found the case of infliction of swine virus A(H1N1) in Cambodia on June 23, 2009.

It was noticed that a large number of A(H1N1) individuals in Cambodia tracing their travel paths through Thailand. So far, there are 17 persons inflicted swine flu in Cambodia, including 3 Cambodians and 14 foreigners.

According to the ministry statement, those who must across the border should avoid crowded places and people suffering from flu-like symptoms, and adding that travelers should also wash their hands frequently with soap and fill out a required medical from upon returning to Cambodia.

Dr Ly Sovann, deputy director of the Center for Disease Control at the Health Ministry, was quoted by the Cambodia Daily as saying that now it is not a serious situation yet in Cambodia and we are continuing to check on suspected cases. He added that it’s fine if you are just traveling through Thailand, but not if you are staying there.

Thai health officials said that confirmed swine flu virus cases has risen to 6,776 Tuesday, of which some 35 were under close observation, with seven listed as being in a serious condition, according to Reuters.

Awareness campaign over the hazards of influenza virus inflection to Cambodians living along Thai-Cambodian border has been conducted by the government. Those provinces targeted are Battambang, Banteay Meanchey, and Oddor Meanchey provinces.

The government will spend the amount of between $25,000 to $50,000 in the three northwest provinces to educate villagers on how to protect themselves from inflicting H1N1 virus and prevent its spread. In Addition, the posters, brochures will be distributed to rural areas and reached out to students as well.

“The government ordered to educate the villagers along the border first,” adding that “recently NCDM’s officials use to educate the villagers in Prey Veng, Kompong Speu and Svay Reing and now the government announced in public to educate the villagers along the border with Thailand,” said Peov Samy, National Committee for Disaster Management Secretary-General, was quoted by the Daily as saying.