The WHO stated it was unclear how the person turned contaminated, though H5N2 has been reported in poultry in Mexico. Archive. | Picture credit score: Reuters
The dying of a person in Mexico was attributable to a pressure of chicken flu known as H5N2 that has by no means earlier than been present in a human, the World Well being Group stated June 5.
The WHO stated it was unclear how the person turned contaminated, though H5N2 has been reported in poultry in Mexico.
Additionally learn | Does chicken flu have the potential to turn into the following pandemic?
There are quite a few sorts of avian flu. H5N2 will not be the identical pressure that has contaminated a number of herds of dairy cows within the U.S. That pressure known as H5N1 and three farmworkers have contracted gentle infections.
Different strains of chicken flu have killed individuals all over the world in earlier years, together with 18 individuals in China throughout an H5N6 outbreak in 2021, based on a timeline of chicken flu outbreaks from the Facilities for Illness Management and Prevention. USA
Mexican well being officers alerted the WHO {that a} 59-year-old man who died in a Mexico Metropolis hospital had the virus despite the fact that there was no identified publicity to poultry or different animals.
In line with relations, based on the WHO assertion, the affected person had been bedridden for unrelated causes earlier than creating fever, shortness of breath and diarrhea on April 17. Mexico’s public well being division stated in an announcement that he had underlying illnesses, together with power kidney failure. , diabetes and hypertension.
Hospital care was sought on April 24 and the person died that very same day.
Preliminary exams confirmed an unidentified sort of flu that subsequent weeks of laboratory testing confirmed to be H5N2.
The WHO stated the chance to individuals in Mexico is low and that no additional human instances have been found up to now regardless of testing individuals who had been in touch with the deceased of their houses and in hospital.
There have been three outbreaks of H5N2 in poultry in close by areas of Mexico in March, however authorities have been unable to discover a connection. Mexican officers are additionally monitoring birds close to a shallow lake outdoors Mexico Metropolis.
Every time chicken flu circulates amongst poultry, there’s a danger that individuals in shut contact with the flocks will turn into contaminated. Well being authorities are watching intently for any indicators that viruses are evolving to unfold simply from individual to individual, and specialists are involved as extra mammal species contract chicken flu viruses.
