The World Health Organization (WHO) confirmed on Wednesday that a 59-year-old man died of lung cancer. Bird flu. “On 23 May 2024, the Mexican IHR NFP notified PAHO/WHO of a confirmed case of human infection. Bird flu A(H5N2) the virus was detected in a 59-year-old resident of the State of Mexico who was hospitalized in Mexico City and had no history of exposure to poultry or other animals.There were multiple underlying medical conditions in the case. “Relatives of the case reported that the case had already been bedridden for three weeks for other reasons before the onset of acute symptoms,” he said.
Now, with the first human death from bird flu, a big and threatening question arises: Can the bird flu virus pass from one infected person to another?
“No evidence so far”
There is so far no evidence of person-to-person transmission of bird flu in the case of a man in Mexico who died from the disease, the country’s health ministry said on Wednesday. In the statement made by the ministry, it was stated that the man had various previous health problems and the test results of all people in contact with him were negative.
WHO’s press release stated that 17 contacts of the deceased were identified and monitored in hospital, one of whom reported a runny nose between 28 and 29 April. The World Health Organization said samples taken from these hospital contacts between May 27 and 29 tested negative for influenza and SARS-CoV 2. 12 additional contacts (seven symptomatic and five asymptomatic) identified near the case’s residence were also found to be negative for influenza.

The Mexican Ministry of Health confirmed that the detected bird flu does not pose a risk to the public. It is also stated that the source of the infection in this case has not been identified.
H5N2 bird flu
The World Health Organization said that in March 2024, an outbreak of highly pathogenic avian influenza A(H5N2) was detected in a backyard poultry farm in the state of Michoacán, bordering the State of Mexico, where the case was located.

H5N2 is a subtype of avian influenza virus that primarily affects birds, including domestic poultry and wild waterfowl. It is a highly pathogenic species, meaning it can cause severe disease and high mortality rates in infected bird populations. Although H5N2 primarily poses a threat to the poultry industry and causes significant economic losses, the risk of transmission to humans is low. Effective biosecurity practices and surveillance are essential in managing H5N2 outbreaks.
(With input from Reuters, AP)