A first human case of avian flu of the H5N2 strain has been detected in Mexico, the World Health Organization announced. This is not the strain currently spreading among livestock in the United States. The causes of the contamination of this 59-year-old man are still unknown.
The H5N2 avian flu caused its first human victim, a 59-year-old Mexican. The World Health Organization (WHO) indicates in a press release dated June 5 that “this is the first laboratory-confirmed human case of influenza A(H5N2) virus infection reported in the world and the first avian H5 virus infection in a person reported in Mexico.”
On April 17, this man presented the following symptoms: fever, shortness of breath, diarrhea, nausea and general malaise. He was hospitalized on April 24 and died the same day. Infection with the H5N2 strain of avian influenza was confirmed on May 23.
H5N2 outbreaks in poultry farms
Since March 2024, H5N2 influenza has been identified in several poultry farms in the State of Mexico where the deceased patient resided. However, for the moment, it has not been possible to establish whether this human case was linked to these outbreaks. The victim also had no history of contact with poultry or domestic animals.
According to the WHO, the patient had comorbidities and had recently been bedridden for other health problems. The contact cases tested negative for the H5N2 strain and the WHO “believes that the current risk posed by this virus to the general population is low.”
Three people infected with H5N1 in the United States
The H5N2 strain is not the one currently spreading among livestock on many farms in the United States. There, it is the H5N1 virus, which has crossed the species barrier, passing from wild birds to poultry and mammals, including cattle and humans. In total, three individuals have been infected since the start of the epidemic in cows. The three patients had been in contact with sick animals.
At this stage, no human-to-human contamination has been observed but avian flu remains for the WHO. The international organization fears that the virus will adapt and be capable of transmitting from human to human. Especially since in people contaminated during contact with sick animals, “the mortality rate is extremely high”, said Dr Jeremy Farrar, chief scientist at the WHO during a press conference on April 18 at the Geneva headquarters of the UN. He then called on countries to strengthen surveillance and anticipate potential human-to-human transmission.
Nearly half of those infected have died
According to the WHO, “Bird flu virus infections in humans can cause mild to severe upper respiratory tract infections and can be fatal. Cases of conjunctivitis, gastrointestinal symptoms, encephalitis, and encephalopathy have also been reported. been reported”.
According to the latest available figures, since the start of 2023 until March 25, 2024, 888 human cases of avian influenza infection have been reported to WHO in 23 countries. 463 deaths occurred, representing more than half of those infected.
