A Mexico resident has died in what officials believe is the world’s first death from a bird flu strain not previously detected in humans, the World Health Organization (WHO) announced on Wednesday.
The 59-year-old individual passed away on April 24 after experiencing a week of symptoms that included fever, shortness of breath, diarrhea, nausea, and general discomfort, according to the WHO. The victim, whose identity has not been disclosed, had multiple underlying health conditions before developing these acute symptoms.
The patient was bedridden in Mexico City for three weeks and eventually succumbed to complications from the infection.
Laboratory tests confirmed that this was the first human death caused by the avian influenza subtype A(H5N2) and the first human H5 virus infection reported in Mexico, as per WHO.
The individual had no prior contact with poultry or other animals, and the source of the virus exposure remains unknown, the WHO stated.
In Mexico, the A(H5N2) strain of bird flu has been detected in poultry.
In the United States, at least three cases of bird flu in humans have been linked to dairy farm work, but these involved a different subtype of the virus, H5N1, according to health officials.
Risk to General Population is Low
The H5N2 strain differs from other avian influenza cases that have caused a multi-state outbreak in cattle since late last year.
WHO officials emphasized that the current risk to the general population is low based on available information.
“This case does not alter the current WHO recommendations for public health measures and influenza surveillance,” the organization stated.
Scientists will conduct an epidemiologic investigation in any case of a “confirmed or suspected human infection caused by a novel influenza A virus with pandemic potential,” including bird flu, according to the WHO. These experts will also examine unusual events that could indicate person-to-person transmission of the virus and will collect clinical samples, the agency said.
What is Bird Flu?
Bird flu, also known as avian flu, is a contagious infection that spreads among wild birds and can also infect domestic poultry and other animal species. The virus rarely spreads to humans, but sporadic infections have been reported. Several strains belong to the influenza A-type viruses.
The most common subtypes that can affect humans are A (H5N1), A (H7N9), and A (H9N2), according to the Cleveland Clinic.
In humans, symptoms can resemble typical flu but may progress to more severe respiratory issues.
In birds, avian flu is highly contagious and can range from mild to deadly. Infected birds shed the virus in their saliva, nasal secretions, and feces, allowing other birds to contract the virus through direct contact with these fluids or through contact with contaminated surfaces.
The CDC has recorded three cases of human bird flu infections in 2024, two involving dairy farm workers in Michigan and one involving a dairy farm worker in Texas.
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