The WHO registers in Mexico the first human death from avian flu in the world

The World Health Organization (WHO) confirmed this Wednesday the first human death from avian flu in the world, which was detected in a laboratory in Mexico at the end of May, although the source of exposure in this particular case is unknown. , whose victim died on April 24.

«This is the first laboratory-confirmed human case of influenza A (H5N2) virus infection reported worldwide and the first avian virus infection in a person reported in Mexico. The case had multiple underlying conditions and the investigation by Mexican health authorities continues to determine the probable source of exposure to the virus,” reads a WHO statement.

The victim is a 59-year-old man who had developed fever, difficulty breathing, diarrhea, nausea and general malaise. On April 24 he was hospitalized in the capital of the North American country, Mexico City, and died. A month later, a Mexican laboratory confirmed that the death had occurred due to this virus.

«Current low risk»

At the moment, the source of exposure to the virus in this case is unknown, nor have any more human cases of this infection been detected associated with this case. The WHO, which has recalled that sporadic human cases are not unexpected, has indicated that this virus poses a “current low risk” for the general population, although it has stated that, if necessary, it will review the risk assessment.

Between March and April, several outbreaks of this virus were detected in poultry farms both in the state of Michoacán and in Mexico. However, it has not been possible to establish whether the human case is related to these outbreaks in poultry.