A person in Mexico died from the H5N2 bird flu strain, marking the first known human infection with this variant, the World Health Organization (WHO) confirmed.
The 59-year-old, who passed away on April 24, exhibited symptoms including fever, breathlessness, diarrhoea, and nausea. According to WHO, despite having no known contact with poultry or animals, the individual had several pre-existing health conditions.
This case, reported by Mexican health authorities to the WHO on May 23 following lab tests, occurred in the State of Mexico. The patient died in a Mexico City hospital on the day of his admission.
The WHO statement highlighted that this was the world’s first lab-confirmed human case of the H5N2 virus. The source of the virus remains unidentified, though there have been reports of H5N2 in Mexican poultry.
Mexico’s health ministry reassured the public that there is no risk of contagion. Tests on individuals who had contact with the deceased have all returned negative. Local authorities now closely monitor nearby farms and wildlife to prevent further cases.
