DAP: The breaking news in Cambodia: “No confirmed case of fatal Enterovirus-71 in Philippines: official” plus 7 more

MANILA, July 18 (Xinhua) -- The Philippine government said Wednesday that so far there was no confirmed case of deadly Enterovirus-71 (EV-71) in the country.

Presidential Spokesperson Edwin Lacierda assured that the necessary precautionary measures are in place following an outbreak of the reportedly fatal respiratory-neurological syndrome affecting mostly children in Cambodia.

"We are monitoring any possible entrance of enterovirus through people coming from abroad. So we are making sure that this is being addressed and so far we don't have any incident of enterovirus coming from abroad," Lacierda said in a briefing.

Lacierda noted that the Department of Health (DOH) had already instructed the Bureau of Quarantine to further increase the screening of all arriving travelers as a routine precaution.

Health Secretary Enrique Ona alerted all hospitals to ensure timely reporting of suspected cases and outbreaks of Enterovirus- 71, he added.

The DOH received an official report from the World Health Organization (WHO) that it discovered the presence of Enterovirus- 71 in samples that were collected from the patients in Cambodia.

WELLINGTON, July 18 (Xinhua) -- New Zealand researchers say they have discovered a simple way to reduce the incidence of infant anemia, which afflicts the lives of millions of children in developing countries.

Mixing powdered iron and other micronutrients into food reduced rates of anemia beyond what nutrition education alone could achieve, the researchers found after a study among 3,112 infants in Cambodia.

The researchers provided sachets of micronutrient powder, or " sprinkles," to rural families to mix with home-prepared foods for the 6-month-old infants, a statement from New Zealand's Otago University said Wednesday.

Study lead author Dr Susan Jack said iron deficiency anemia in infants was a global health problem affecting developed and developing countries, but had its greatest impact in poorer parts of the world.

"Anemia represents a major public health concern as it can cause cognitive and learning difficulties and is associated with increased mortality," said Jack in the statement.

An estimated 55 percent of Cambodian children younger than 5 years were anaemic and 40 percent had stunted growth, she said.

Children given the sprinkles for 12 months were 20 percent less likely to develop anemia than the children of families who just received nutrition education.

After 12 and 18 months, iron deficiency prevalence, a risk factor for developing anemia, was reduced by 24 percent and 12 percent respectively in the sprinkles group, said the statement.

"This study provides clear evidence supporting the roll-out of sprinkles as a micronutrient intervention in Cambodia and similar settings. Our findings also help build the case for sprinkles to be used until at least 18 months of age, and preferably to age 2, so that this period of greatest vulnerability to anemia and iron deficiency can be fully covered," said Jack.

The researchers planned to continue surveys to monitor the effectiveness of sprinkles in reducing anemia as the intervention was rolled out through more of the country's provinces.

The findings have been published online in the journal Archives of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine.

PHNOM PENH, July 18 (Xinhua) -- Cambodia closed all kindergartens and primary schools across the country on Wednesday in fear of the spread of newly diagnosed Enterovirus 71 (EV-71), which causes hand, foot and mouth disease (HFMD), a senior education official said Wednesday.

"With the approval from Prime Minister Hun Sen, the Ministry of Education decided to shut down both private and state-owned children schools throughout the country earlier than the annual vacation schedule," Mak Van, secretary of state at the Ministry of Education, told Xinhua over telephone.

The closure decision was made after teachers and parents expressed concerns over the disease, he said.

Generally, the pupils will be allowed to take an annual vacation from the end of July to October, but this year, because of the spread of EV-71, the holiday is allowed earlier than the schedule, he said.

According to Mak Van, the country has 2,575 pre-schools with 121,300 pupils and 6,849 primary schools with 2.14 million pupils.

The country has been plagued with Enterovirus 71 (EV-71), which causes hand, foot and mouth disease, since April. The severe form of HFMD has killed at least 54 Cambodian children since then, according to a joint statement from Cambodia's Ministry of Health and the World Health Organization on July 12.

HFMD virus is contagious and infection in spread from person to person by direct contact with nose or throat discharges, saliva, fluid from blisters, or the stool of infected persons.

Good hygiene practice can prevent HFMD. Presently, there is no specific treatment available for HFMD, said the joint statement. Parents should seek medical advice if their children develop high fever, vomiting, lethargy and limb weakness.

PHNOM PENH, July 18 (Xinhua) -- The President of Cambodia's National Assembly, Heng Samrin will make a two nation tour to Vietnam and Laos from July 20-30 to further enhance bilateral ties, according to a press release from the National Assembly on Wednesday.

Heng Samrin will be in Vietnam from July 20-25 at the invitation of his Vietnamese counterpart Nguyen Sinh Hung, and he will stay in Laos from July 25-30 at the invitation of Chairwoman of Laos National Assembly Pany Yathotou.

"The visit is aimed at strengthening and expanding friendship relations, solidarity and traditional cooperation between Cambodia and Vietnam, and Cambodia and Laos," said the press release.

It added that during the visit, Heng Samrin will also meet with the leaders of parties and governments of the two countries.

PREAH VIHEAR, Cambodia, July 18 (Xinhua) -- Cambodia on Wednesday withdrew 485 military personnel from the Provisional Demilitarized Zone (PDZ) surrounding the 11th century Preah Vihear temple in order to comply with the order of the International Court of Justice (ICJ).

The pullout ceremony was presided over by Cambodian deputy Prime Minister and Defense Minister Gen. Tea Banh, and was attended by foreign diplomats, military attaches, government officials, locals and students.

According to a press release from the Council of Ministers, it was the "first step of troop redeployment" from the arena around Preah Vihear temple including the areas of Dragon Stair market, North Ancient Stair, East Ancient Stair, and Keo Sikha Kiri Svarak pagoda.

The troops were replaced by 255 policemen and 100 guards for safeguarding the temple, said the press release.

Gen. Chea Dara, deputy commander-in-chief of Royal Cambodian Armed Forces in charge of Preah Vihear Direction, said at the event that the redeployment is a testament proving that Cambodia wants peace with Thailand.

Addressing the ceremony, Gen. Tea Banh said that the pullout was to comply with the ICJ's order and it was a progressive step to improve bilateral ties between Cambodia and Thailand.

The redeployment was made after Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen and his Thai counterpart Yingluck Shinawatra met last Friday in Cambodia's Siem Reap province and agreed to redeploy military personnel in the PDZ surrounding the Preah Vihear temple in order to comply with the ICJ's order.

Cambodia and Thailand have had sporadic border conflict over territorial dispute near Cambodia's Preah Vihear temple since the UNESCO listed the temple as a World Heritage Site on July 7, 2008, but Thailand claims the ownership of 4.6 square kilometers of scrub next to the temple.

Fierce clashes between the two sides' troops had happened in February and April 2011 during Thailand's Democrat Party rule.

The ICJ ordered on July 18, 2011 that Cambodia and Thailand must immediately withdraw their military personnel from the 17.3 square kilometer PDZ and refrain from any armed activity directed at that zone.

Also, it ordered both parties to allow ASEAN observers ( Indonesians) to access to the zone to monitor ceasefire.

The redeployment on Wednesday was held without the arrival of the Indonesian observers.

Preah Vihear, a Hindu temple, is located on the top of a 525- meter cliff in the Dangrek Mountains, about 500 kilometers northwest of Phnom Penh, the capital of Cambodia.

PHNOM PENH, July 17 (Xinhua) -- The Sam Rainsy Party, which is the country's main opposition party, and the Human Rights Party announced Tuesday that they would "merge to form a new political party" to compete in the general elections in July next year, according to a joint statement.

The merger plan was made after the two-day meeting on July 16- 17 between Sam Rainsy, the fugitive leader of Sam Rainsy Party, and Kem Sokha, president of the Human Rights Party, in Manila, the Philippines.

According to the agreement, Sam Rainsy will be the president of the yet-to-form party and Kem Sokha will be the deputy leader.

Cambodia sets to hold the general elections in July 2013.

The last elections were held in July 2008.

As a result, the Cambodian People's Party of Prime Minister Hun Sen won 90 seats out of the 123 seats in the National Assembly, followed by the Sam Rainsy Party with 26 seats, the Human Rights Party 3 seats, the Norodom Ranariddh Party 2 seats and the Funcinpec Party 2 seats.