A six-year-old boy from Cambodia's southern Kandal Province has been confirmed for the H5N1 virus, bringing the number of the cases to 17 so far this year, a joint statement by the World Health Organization and Cambodian Health Ministry said Wednesday.

The boy was confirmed positive for human H5N1 avian influenza on Aug. 17 after he caught fever, headache, abdominal pain, vomiting, cough and lethargy, the statement said, adding that the boy came into contact with sick poultry.

"The boy has now recovered," it said.

Only 7 out of the 17 cases this year survived, the statement said.

The latest death from the virus was a 9-year-old boy from northwestern Battambang Province, who died on Sunday.

Avian influenza H5N1 remained a serious threat to the health of all Cambodians, Health Minister Mam Bunheng said.

"Children also seem to be most vulnerable and are at high risk because they like to play where poultry are found," he said in the statement.

"I urge parents and guardians to keep children away from sick or dead poultry and make sure children wash their hands with soap and water after any contact with poultry."

Cambodia sees the worst outbreak of the virus this year since the disease was first identified in 2004. To date, the country has recorded 38 human cases of the virus, killing 29 people.