First Human Death of H5N2 Bird Flu in Mexico

[Social Media]

 

In a concerning development for global health authorities, the World Health Organization (WHO) has confirmed that a 59-year-old man in Mexico City has died from a strain of bird flu known as H5N2, marking the first recorded human infection of this particular virus. This case has put scientists on high alert, as they watch for signs that the virus could be adapting to spread more easily among humans.

 

The man, who passed away on April 24, had been hospitalized with symptoms including fever, shortness of breath, diarrhea, nausea, and general discomfort. Despite the severity of his symptoms, it remains unclear how he contracted the virus. "Although the source of exposure to the virus in this case is currently unknown, A(H5N2) viruses have been reported in poultry in Mexico," the WHO stated.

 

The WHO and Mexico’s health ministry have reassured the public that the current risk of the H5N2 bird flu virus to the general population in Mexico is low. So far, there has been no evidence of human-to-human transmission. According to Mexico's health ministry, all individuals who had contact with the deceased man have tested negative for the virus, indicating that it has not spread beyond this isolated case. The man had several pre-existing health conditions, which may have exacerbated the severity of the infection.

 

Back in March, Mexico reported an outbreak of H5N2 in an isolated family unit in the western state of Michoacan. At the time, authorities asserted that this outbreak posed no risk to distant commercial farms or to human health. Despite the isolated nature of these cases, the death in April prompted Mexican authorities to confirm the presence of the virus and report the incident to the WHO.

 

This case is particularly concerning in light of recent outbreaks of different strains of bird flu. For example, the H5N1 strain has infected three dairy farm workers in the United States. Historically, various strains of bird flu have caused human fatalities, such as the H5N6 outbreak in China in 2021, which resulted in 18 deaths according to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

 

Andrew Pekosz, an influenza expert at Johns Hopkins University, highlighted the persistent threat posed by H5 viruses. "Since 1997, H5 viruses have continuously shown a propensity to infect mammals more than any other avian influenza virus," he said. "So it continues to ring that warning bell that we should be very vigilant about monitoring for these infections, because every spillover is an opportunity for that virus to try to accumulate those mutations that make it better infect humans."

 

Bird flu viruses have increasingly been identified in mammals, including seals, raccoons, bears, and cattle, typically through contact with infected birds. The potential for these viruses to mutate and spread among humans remains a critical concern for scientists and health authorities worldwide. Recently, Australia reported its first human case of H5N1 infection in May, although no signs of transmission were noted. However, the country has also detected more cases of H7 bird flu in poultry farms in Victoria, illustrating the ongoing risk of avian influenza outbreaks in various parts of the world.

 

As the global community continues to grapple with the implications of bird flu viruses crossing over into human populations, the importance of vigilant monitoring and rapid response measures cannot be overstated. The case in Mexico serves as a stark reminder of the ever-present threat posed by zoonotic diseases and the need for ongoing research and preparedness to prevent potential pandemics.

 

Related Topics:

U.S. to Invest Millions in mRNA Bird Flu Vaccine Amid H5N1 Threat

Bird Flu in Cattle Should You Be Concerned?

First Human Case of Bird Flu Reported in Australia Amid New Farm Outbreak

Challenges in Developing Effective Bird Flu Vaccine Highlighted by Scientists

Unprecedented': How bird flu became an animal pandemic

 

Credit: The Guardian 2024-06-07

 

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[nobodysfriend]

11 hours ago, Social Media said:

Although the source of exposure to the virus in this case is currently unknown, A(H5N2) viruses have been reported in poultry in Mexico," the WHO stated.

 

Yes , when animals are being held in large quantities in non-species appropriate conditions , they tend to develop sicknesses that can lead to another viral pandemic . We know that .

[johng]

Prepare for disease X

 

As Iron Maiden sung  "Run to the hills  run for your life" 

[xtrnuno41]

Hello, hurray another show begins, are we ready?

Little altered from Alice's song.

[TallGuyJohninBKK]

Looks like the original avian influenza diagnosis for this guy's cause of death subsequently has been retracted:

WHO acknowledges bird flu patient in Mexico died of other medical conditions

The patient had been hospitalized for three weeks before contracting bird flu.

 

"The World Health Organization confirmed Friday that Mexican authorities believe the man with a rare human case of bird flu actually died from other co-morbidities.

...

In the latest update, the WHO said health officials in Mexico had concluded the man died because of his co-morbidities.

 

"A national multidisciplinary group of experts was formed to investigate the cause of death. It included infectious disease specialists, pneumonologists, microbiologists and intensive care professionals," the WHO wrote. "Upon review of the patient's clinical history and records, the national multidisciplinary team concluded on 6 June that, although the patient had a laboratory-confirmed infection with avian influenza A(H5N2) virus, he died due to complications of his co-morbidities."

 

(more)

 

https://abcnews.go.com/Health/acknowledges-bird-flu-patient-mexico-died-medical-conditions/story?id=111131166

 

And more of the same from Reuters:

 

https://www.reuters.com/world/americas/mexico-health-ministry-bird-flu-patient-died-chronic-disease-not-virus-2024-06-07/

 

 

 

Edited June 16 by TallGuyJohninBKK