Patient’s death in Mexico is not linked to H5N2 avian influenza

Geneva (EFE).- A representative of the World Health Organization (WHO) clarified this Friday that the recent death of a patient in a hospital in Mexico is not related to the H5N2 bird flu, but to “multifactorial” causes of suffering from other diseases. and illness.

Multifactorial death not caused by H5N2 virus

“It is important to point out that the death was multifactorial and not caused by the H5N2 virus,” WHO spokesman Christian Lindmeier confirmed at a press conference.

The official recalled that the patient arrived at the hospital after suffering from symptoms for several weeks and died on the same day he was examined at the medical center (April 24), after which he was tested positive for the H5N2 virus.

This is the first case of infection with this common avian virus reported in humans, although other subtypes of avian influenza, such as H5N1, have been diagnosed in humans in several countries over the past two decades (about 900 cases, half of them fatal). .

The WHO representative stressed that the investigation into the case is currently ongoing, but did not confirm whether this will lead to a reassessment of the global situation with avian influenza (for now, the organization believes that the health risk from this disease is low, despite the increase in outbreaks in birds and mammals) .

WHO reported the case on June 5.

The WHO reported the case in Mexico on Wednesday, June 5, although the next day the Mexican government denied a direct link between the patient’s death and bird flu, accusing the health organization of making a “pretty bad” statement, according to its secretary. Health Jorge Alcocer.

“I might point out that the World Health Organization statement is quite bad because it initially says there was a death, which was not the case, he died of another cause and without a ruling, and only marginally says that the risk in this case is low.” , said Health Minister Jorge Alcocer.