A 59-year-old man, resident in the State of Mexico, died on April 24 due to contracting an infection with a strain of avian flu (AH5N2) that had not been previously identified in humans.
The World Health Organization (WHO) noted that infection with the AH5N2 strain It is not transmitted from person to personhence ruled out a risk of contagion for the population with the detection of the first human case of avian influenza.
What is bird flu?
Avian influenza is a disease caused by the virus Orthomyxoviridae, that affects wild and domestic birds. According to the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO), the low temperatures and the environmental humidity They favor the survival of the virus.
Depending on the subtype of the virus, specialists classify avian flu as low or highly pathogenic, that is, the ability of the strain to develop serious diseases in birds.
The low-pathogenic virus can cause mild illness, without symptoms; However, the subtypes (H5 and H7) of the type A can develop a serious disease in birds, which can spread rapidly and cause death, and even, can infect people by being in contact with a bird with the virus.
How is bird flu spread?
So far, health experts have not proven that bird flu is transmitted from person to person; however, contagion is possible from birds to humans if there is direct or indirect contact with infected animals or environments and surfaces contaminated by feces.
PAHO points out that plucking, working with infected poultry carcasses, or preparing them for human consumption are risk factors for people contracting the virus.
What are the symptoms of bird flu?
Currently, specialists are monitoring avian influenza to detect if there are changes in its transmission. The WHO points out that the incubation period of the virus in humans is longer than that of seasonal influenza, which is why it recommends a follow-up period for 14 days in suspected cases.
The Mexican who contracted the virus had fever, difficulty breathing, diarrhea, nausea and general malaise, according to the WHO.
PAHO points out that people infected with the type A avian influenza virus can also develop symptoms ranging from mild respiratory tract infection (fever and cough) to severe pneumonia, difficulty breathing, shock, and even death. death.
