WHO confirms first human death from H5N2 bird flu

The World Health Organization (WHO) has reported a confirmed case of human infection with the avian influenza A(H5N2) virus detected in a resident in Mexico.

This is said to be the first human case of infection with an influenza A(H5N2) virus worldwide and the first H5 avian virus reported in a person in Mexico.

The WHO said Mexican health authorities reported the confirmed case to the U.N. health body on May 23 after conducting laboratory tests.

In a statement released Wednesday, the WHO said the 59-year-old man, whose identity was not provided, had been hospitalized in Mexico City.

Although he died on April 24 after developing fever, difficulty breathing, diarrhea, nausea and general malaise, the global health body said the cause of his death was not revealed until May, after the test results were published. laboratory tests carried out.

He added that Mexico’s Health Ministry said the man had underlying health problems, including kidney disease, diabetes and high blood pressure.

H5N2 outbreak

According to the UN Health agency, H5N2 cases were detected at a backyard poultry farm in the state of Michoacán in March, and other outbreaks were identified in the State of Mexico.

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The WHO said it could not determine how the man in Mexico became infected with the H5N2 virus.

He said there have been outbreaks of H5N2 in poultry farms in Mexico, including the state where the man lived, adding that there were cases of the same virus in poultry in the area, but they could not connect the two, so the risk percentage of people who become infected is “low”.

According to the Mexican Ministry of Health, “there is no risk of contagion to the general population and all of the patient’s contacts have tested negative for the virus.”

He noted that authorities are monitoring farms in the area and have established a surveillance system to detect new cases.

“This is the first recorded case of a human being infected with the H5N2 virus, which is different from the H5N1 variant that has been affecting dairy cow herds in the United States,” he said.

bird flu

According to the Cleaveland Clinic, bird flu, also known as bird flu, is a type of influenza that infects birds.

The virus can be found in the intestines of infected birds and is normally shed in their feces.

Wild birds, such as ducks and migratory birds, can carry the virus without showing symptoms.

READ ALSO: WHO allays fear over human-to-human transmission of H5N1 bird flu

However, domesticated birds, such as chickens and turkeys, can get sick and even die from the virus.

The virus can spread through direct contact with the body secretions of infected birds, indirect contact with surfaces or contaminated food and water, airborne transmission through coughing and sneezing.