The World Health Organization is working with Cambodian authorities after two confirmed human cases of H5N1 bird flu were found in one family in the country.

Describing the situation as "worrying" due to the recent rise in cases in birds and mammals, Dr. Sylvie Briand, the director of the epidemic and pandemic preparedness and prevention, told reporters in a virtual briefing that WHO was reviewing its global risk assessment in light of the recent developments.

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Cambodian authorities on Thursday reported the death of an 11-year-old girl due to H5N1 and began testing 12 of her contacts. Her father, who had been showing symptoms, has also tested positive for the virus.

"The global H5N1 situation is worrying given the wide spread of the virus in birds around the world and the increasing reports of cases in mammals including humans," Briand said. "WHO takes the risk from this virus seriously and urges heightened vigilance from all countries."

In February, Argentina and Uruguay each declared national sanitary emergencies after officials confirmed the countries' first infections. Argentina found the virus in wild birds, while dead swans in Uruguay tested positive.

Countries including Peru, Ecuador, and Bolivia in recent months reported their first cases.

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The Agriculture Ministry is worried that chicken coops where bird flu has been identified could infect residents of nearby communities, the ministry reported Saturday.

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An outbreak of the bird flu was also found at a farm in the southern Golan Heights containing roughly 17,000 turkeys, The Jerusalem Post reported.

The ministry's veterinary services placed the farm under quarantine.

"We are in a war against a virus that may not be visible but is deadly to birds and can be contagious to humans as well," said Agriculture Minister Oded Forer.

"Although cases of infection in humans are rare, they are extremely fatal, with about 50% mortality in humans who have been infected with the disease," Forer said.

In addition to the risk of the bird flu being transmitted to humans, the country could also face a major egg shortage as infected laying hens are destroyed.

Forer has issued instructions to prevent the outbreak from spreading, and to lift quotas on the import of eggs.

On Thursday, the Israel Nature and Parks Authority reported that one in five wild cranes living or migrating through Israel are infected with bird flu.

So far, about 100 birds have died in the outbreak, according to The Jerusalem Post. Authorities expect to remove 25 to 30 tons of carcasses, The Times of Israel reported.

Some 100,000 cranes visit northern Israel's Hula Valley annually. Many stay in the country until early March, then they fly north to nest.

Inspectors are sweeping the Hula Valley for evidence of the virus and searching water bodies in neighboring valleys.

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