Background
On March 5, 2026, the University of Health Sciences in Phnom Penh held a workshop entitled “Research on Avian Influenza in Cambodia Using the One Health Approach: From Risk Factors to Preparedness.” The event was presided over by Her Excellency Dr. Youk Sambath, Secretary of State at the Ministry of Health and Chair of the Inter-Ministerial Coordinating Committee for One Health Cambodia (IMCC-OH). The workshop coincided with the 80th anniversary of the University of Health Sciences, founded in 1946.
The workshop forms part of a broader series of scientific activities organized by the University to commemorate its 80th anniversary and to enhance national infectious disease preparedness.
Scope of Application
The workshop focuses on building national capacity for preparedness and response to avian influenza A/H5N1 and other zoonotic infectious diseases that can transmit from animals to humans within Cambodia. It promotes collaborative research under the One Health paradigm, integrating health, agriculture, environment, and related sectors.
Key Provisions or Decisions
Her Excellency Dr. Youk Sambath emphasized several key recommendations, including the establishment of a unified mechanism for coordinating research agendas, identifying gaps in avian influenza research, reinforcing collaboration among all stakeholders, and supporting research opportunities for young scientists and students, especially in zoonotic infectious diseases like A/H5N1.
Participants included national and international researchers and leadership from the Ministries of Health, Environment, Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, Cambodia Pasteur Institute, Calmette Hospital, Khmer-Soviet Friendship Hospital, Department of Communicable Disease Control, Kantha Bopha Hospital, and others.
Implications for Investors, Businesses, or Compliance
While this workshop is primarily scientific and policy-supportive in nature, it signals the Cambodian government’s increasing emphasis on multisectoral collaboration and capacity building in infectious disease prevention and control. This evolving governance framework could influence compliance standards related to public health, agricultural biosecurity, and research collaboration in Cambodia.
Official Source
Ministry of Health Cambodia Facebook post, March 6, 2026: https://www.facebook.com/MinistryofHealthofCambodia/posts/pfbid02i8MCB67pYJPNvunGyNm8sgVbsLxwjFsCYZwoxftHL6bpn8QDwWu9hfdCnmHmCENl
