WHO confirms first fatal case of H5N2 bird flu in humans – vopbuzz
59-year-old resident of the State of Mexico passed away Bird flu In the first confirmed case of a human infected with H5N2 variantThe World Health Organization (WHO) announced on Wednesday. The patient died on April 24 after complaints of fever, shortness of breath, diarrhea and nausea. The individual had multiple medical conditions, including chronic kidney disease and type 2 diabetes, despite having no history of exposure to poultry or other animals, according to a statement from Mexico’s health ministry.
The World Health Organization reported that the patient, who was bedridden for three weeks before acute symptoms appeared, was hospitalized in Mexico City and succumbed to the disease the same day.This case marks the first laboratory-confirmed human infection with influenza A(H5N2) virus worldwide and the first reported avian H5 virus in an individual in Mexico.
“Although the source of exposure to the virus in this case is currently unknown, A(H5N2) viruses have been reported in poultry in Mexico,” the World Health Organization said. Mexican health authorities conducted laboratory tests and reported the confirmed case to the UN health agency on May 23.
in March, H5N2 Cases have been identified at a backyard poultry farm in the state of Michoacan, and other outbreaks have been identified in the State of Mexico. However, establishing a link between human cases and poultry infections has been challenging. WHO estimates the risk to the general population as “low.”
The Mexican health ministry emphasized that all samples taken from the patient’s identified contacts tested negative and that there was no risk of contamination for the society. Authorities are closely monitoring farms near the victim’s home and have set up a permanent monitoring system to detect other wildlife incidents in the area.
Noting the complexity of the situation, influenza expert Andrew Pekosz from Johns Hopkins University said: “How this person became infected is a big question mark, and at least this initial report does not fully address it.”
WHO and Mexican health authorities continue to investigate the source of the infection. Avian flu is known to infect a variety of mammals, including seals, raccoons, bears, and cattle, primarily through contact with infected birds. Scientists continue to be alert to changes in the virus that may indicate adaptations that could mean it spreads more easily among people.
In the United States, H5N1, a variant strain of bird flu, is spreading among dairy cow herds, and a small number of human cases have been reported. However, none of these cases involve human-to-human transmission.
Australia also reported its first case of A(H5N1) infection in humans with no evidence of transmission in May, while more cases of H7 bird flu were seen in poultry on farms in Victoria state.
Pekosz added: “Since 1997, H5 viruses have shown a greater tendency to infect mammals than other avian influenza viruses. So it continues to ring the warning bell that we need to be very careful about monitoring for these infections, because every spread is a risk.” “This is an opportunity for the virus to try to accumulate mutations that allow it to infect people better.”
(With input from institutions)
The World Health Organization reported that the patient, who was bedridden for three weeks before acute symptoms appeared, was hospitalized in Mexico City and succumbed to the disease the same day.This case marks the first laboratory-confirmed human infection with influenza A(H5N2) virus worldwide and the first reported avian H5 virus in an individual in Mexico.
“Although the source of exposure to the virus in this case is currently unknown, A(H5N2) viruses have been reported in poultry in Mexico,” the World Health Organization said. Mexican health authorities conducted laboratory tests and reported the confirmed case to the UN health agency on May 23.
in March, H5N2 Cases have been identified at a backyard poultry farm in the state of Michoacan, and other outbreaks have been identified in the State of Mexico. However, establishing a link between human cases and poultry infections has been challenging. WHO estimates the risk to the general population as “low.”
The Mexican health ministry emphasized that all samples taken from the patient’s identified contacts tested negative and that there was no risk of contamination for the society. Authorities are closely monitoring farms near the victim’s home and have set up a permanent monitoring system to detect other wildlife incidents in the area.
Noting the complexity of the situation, influenza expert Andrew Pekosz from Johns Hopkins University said: “How this person became infected is a big question mark, and at least this initial report does not fully address it.”
WHO and Mexican health authorities continue to investigate the source of the infection. Avian flu is known to infect a variety of mammals, including seals, raccoons, bears, and cattle, primarily through contact with infected birds. Scientists continue to be alert to changes in the virus that may indicate adaptations that could mean it spreads more easily among people.
In the United States, H5N1, a variant strain of bird flu, is spreading among dairy cow herds, and a small number of human cases have been reported. However, none of these cases involve human-to-human transmission.
Australia also reported its first case of A(H5N1) infection in humans with no evidence of transmission in May, while more cases of H7 bird flu were seen in poultry on farms in Victoria state.
Pekosz added: “Since 1997, H5 viruses have shown a greater tendency to infect mammals than other avian influenza viruses. So it continues to ring the warning bell that we need to be very careful about monitoring for these infections, because every spread is a risk.” “This is an opportunity for the virus to try to accumulate mutations that allow it to infect people better.”
(With input from institutions)
