06/05/2024
The World Health Organization (WHO) confirmed this Wednesday the death of a person in Mexico in the first known case of human infection with H5N2 avian flu, a different variant than the one detected in the United States.
“This is the first confirmed human case in a laboratory of infection by an influenza A (H5N2) virus reported in the world, and the first infection by the H5 avian virus reported in a person in Mexico,” the UN health agency declared in a statement on its website. Web.
The Mexican authorities had informed the WHO on May 23 of a confirmed case of H5N2 avian influenza infection in a 59-year-old person, who had been hospitalized in the capital.
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The patient presented “multiple underlying pathologies” and on April 17 he developed fever, breathing problems, diarrhea and nausea, before dying on April 24, the WHO said.
In another statement, the Mexican government indicated that he was “a 59-year-old man, with a history of chronic kidney disease, type 2 diabetes, long-standing systemic arterial hypertension, resident in the State of Mexico.”
The UN agency stated that The origin of the infection is “currently unknown” and stressed that the victim had “no history of exposure to birds or other animals.”
“There is no risk of contagion”
The organization points out that in March a epidemiological focus of avian flu of the H5N2 type on a poultry farm in the state of Michoacán, bordering the State of Mexico.
Other cases in poultry were also identified in March in Texcoco and in April in Temascalapa, both municipalities in the State of Mexico.
“Until now “It has not been possible to establish” whether the human infection detected is related to these cases. in poultry, the WHO said.
Based on the information available, the organization estimates that The current risk that this virus represents for the population is “weak.”
Along the same lines, the Ministry of Health of the Mexican government affirms that “There is no risk of contagion for the population” and assures that “all the samples from the identified contacts (of the patient) have been negative.”
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He also pointed out that the authorities are controlling the farms close to the victim’s home and established a permanent monitoring system to detect other cases in the wildlife of the area.
In United States There has also been a record focus of avian flu, but of the H5N1 type, which has been spreading for several weeks among cattle.
have been detected several cases in humansbut still no person-to-person contagion.
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