Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen on Tuesday urged the country's media to increase the coverage of bird flu information in an effort to effectively prevent the spread of the deadly virus.

Warning the bird flu virus "has been spreading," he urged the nation's radio stations and TV channels to broadcast more information about the bird flu to let more people know the danger of the virus and learn how to avoid catching it.

A short presentation should be inserted in television or radio between major programs and prime-time shows, the premier said at the inauguration of a medical school. "We must not underestimate the danger posed by the virus," he stressed.

He blamed last Tuesday's death of a three-year-old girl on lack of public information of the virus.

The girl from a village in Kampong Speu province was died of playing with the sick and dead chickens, according to officials of the Health Ministry and the World Health Organization.

"The parents took dead chickens and cooked them for their children to eat. This was due to the lack of information on bird flu," Hun Sen said.

The WHO also expressed "great concern" Sunday over Cambodia's latest bird flu outbreak.

"All the government sectors, especially the ministries of health and agriculture must be mobilized for the campaign," the premier said. He also called for more doctors and medical workers to go to the countryside to help the poor and villagers.

Five people have died of bird flu in Cambodia since early 2005.