Man in Mexico dies from first human case of H5N2 bird flu
A 59-year-old man in Mexico has died after contracting a strain of bird flu that hasn’t been confirmed in humans before. The World Health Organization (WHO) announced this on Wednesday. The patient had been hospitalized in Mexico City. However, he succumbed to the virus one week after developing symptoms including fever, shortness of breath, and diarrhea.
First Human Case of H5N2 Strain of Bird Flu
This marks the first laboratory-confirmed human case of the H5N2 strain of bird flu. This current bird flu outbreak affecting dairy cows in the United States is caused by a different strain, H5N1. The deceased patient resided in central Mexico. He had no known history of exposure to poultry or other animals. Thus, raising questions about the source of the infection.
The WHO stated that the overall risk posed by H5N2 to the general public is low. No additional cases have been reported following an investigation. Although this is the first confirmed human case of H5N2, researchers have previously identified individuals with antibodies suggesting prior exposure to the virus.
Reports of The Case
Mexican authorities reported the case to the WHO on May 23 after confirming the presence of the virus. The patient had been bedridden for three weeks due to other health issues before the onset of acute symptoms. Epidemiologist Katrine Wallace from the University of Illinois Chicago School of Public Health noted the importance of increased surveillance to better understand the transmission of H5N2, particularly since the patient had no known animal exposure.
In the United States, the H5N1 outbreak continues to spread, with Iowa recently reporting infected cattle. So far this year, three farmworkers in the U.S. have tested positive for bird flu, experiencing symptoms such as eye irritation and coughing. There have been no fatalities associated with the H5N1 strain in the U.S.
The Mexican health ministry and the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention have yet to comment on the case. This development underscores the need for ongoing monitoring and research to prevent further outbreaks and to understand the behavior of new and existing strains of bird flu.
Source: Bloomberg
