The WHO now says the first human case of avian flu has died from “multifactorial” causes.
A man became infected with H5N2 bird flu in Mexico. first human case the presence of this strain of the virus has been confirmed, died from multifactorial causes, This was stated by the World Health Organization (WHO). The WHO announced Wednesday that the first human case of H5N2 avian influenza was identified in a patient in Mexico City who died on April 24.
“It was a death due to a complex of factors, not related to H5N2 virus– Christian Lindmeier, WHO representative, said at a press conference in Geneva. The patient was bedridden for three weeks and then admitted to the hospital with respiratory complications, Lindmeier said.
According to WHO, based on information from Mexican health authorities, the patient began acute symptoms such as fever, respiratory distress, diarrhea, nausea and malaise, on April 17, and died on the 24th of the same month. According to Lindmeier, doctors performed several tests and discovered that the patient was infected with H5N2 avian influenza.
Mexican health authorities said the patient’s cause of death was under investigation, but stressed that the 59-year-old man, who had diabetes, presented renal failure followed by respiratory failure.
Health Minister Jorge Alcocer on Wednesday questioned a WHO statement that said the case was the first recorded infection in humans, as well as the first death. “The WHO statement is incorrect. They are talking about a fatal case, but the death is not related to the H5N2 virus,” the minister said. “The investigation is ongoing. “Blood tests are performed on contacts to check for possible previous infections,” Lindmeier explained.
They were identified 17 contacts cases in the hospital, all of which tested negative. In addition, 12 contacts in the patient’s home were tested in previous weeks and none tested positive. “The source of the H5N2 infection is being investigated to determine whether it was infected by someone who visited him or from previous contact with the animal,” the spokesperson said.
The WHO said that although the source of infection is unknown, in March H5N2 influenza outbreak detected at a poultry farm in Michoacán, adjacent to the state of Mexico. Cases were also confirmed in poultry in March in Texcoco and in April in Temazcalapa, both municipalities of Mexico State.
On Friday, WHO reported that a 2-year-old girl gave a positive result from H5N1, a different strain of bird flu, and required intensive care in Australia after returning from India. WHO estimates that, based on available information, the current risk the virus poses to the population is low.