59-Year-Old Dies in Mexico From the Bird Flu

The first reported human fatality from the avian H5N2 virus

Mexico's National FlagPhoto byJorge AguilaronUnsplash

The World Health Organization (WHO) announced Wednesday that a 59-year-old person died in Mexico City from complications caused by the H5N2 virus, better known as the Bird Flu.

Authorities in Mexico have not released much information about the person except that they were bedridden and had multiple health issues. The bird flu attacks the respiratory system in most infected animals including humans.

Other symptoms are fever, shortness of breath, diarrhea, and nausea. There have been 900 cases since 1996 of the H5N1 virus in humans with about a 50% mortality rate. The subtype - H5N2 - is what has been found recently in the United States in dairy cows.

No one is certain how the person became infected, however, the WHO recently reported that the H5N2 virus was found in poultry in Mexico. Although, they also say they cannot be sure if the two are related.

The risk to the general public is low says the World Health Organization.

It is difficult to get the bird flu unless you work around animals with the virus. Poultry farms, dairy farms, and animal care workers are the most at risk. When humans contract the virus they can experience severe upper respiratory tract infections which can lead to death. Conjunctivitis (eye infection), stomach symptoms (cramps), and brain swelling (severe headaches) may happen as well.

References:

CNN.com - https://www.cnn.com/2024/06/05/health/bird-flu-mexico-human-h5n

USAToday.com - https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/health/2024/06/05/bird-flu-mex

I'm Done!Photo byH. Mikel Feilen