First Human Case of H5N2 Bird Flu Reported in Mexico, WHO Confirms
The World Health Organization (WHO) has confirmed that the first human infection of the H5N2 bird flu virus has been detected in Mexico, sparking concerns over potential health risks. However, the Mexican Secretary of Health, Dr. Jorge Alcocer, denied that the individual died due to the virus, asserting that the primary causes were kidney failure and respiratory complications.
Dr. Alcocer, speaking at a conference hosted by President Andrés Manuel López Obrador, criticized the WHO's initial statement, calling for caution and clarification regarding the reported fatal case. He emphasized, 'I can point out that the statement made by the World Health Organization is quite bad since, from the outset, it talks about a fatal case, which was not the case. He died from another cause.'
Monitoring and Precautionary Measures Implemented
The patient's death was confirmed by Mexico's Ministry of Health in a statement on Wednesday. The ministry revealed that the patient had chronic conditions such as hypertension, diabetes, and chronic kidney disease. Despite these underlying conditions, laboratory tests confirmed he was the first human to carry the H5N2 virus strain. Following the report, Mexican health authorities have implemented rigorous measures to monitor other potential cases in humans and birds, although they assure that there is no immediate risk of contagion to the general population.
The WHO highlighted in their report that while the origin of the H5N2 infection is currently unknown, there have been instances of the strain reported in poultry within Mexico. Additionally, the infected individual had no known contact with poultry or other animals, complicating the source tracing. 'This is the first laboratory-confirmed human case of influenza A(H5N2) virus infection reported in the world and the first avian H5 virus infection in a person reported in Mexico,' stated the WHO.
Despite the fatal outcome, Dr. Alcocer reassured the public that human infections with avian flu strains typically manifest mildly and do not indicate a significant public health threat. He stated, 'The infections in humans that have been detected, especially in poultry farm workers, are very mild; they do not lead to these manifestations. So far, there is no evidence of human-to-human transmission.'
The presence of additional H5N2 cases in poultry was noted throughout March and April across various Mexican states, including Michoacán and Mexico State. However, the connection between these cases and the reported human infection remains uncertain. WHO and Mexican health officials continue collaborating to investigate the circumstances surrounding this unprecedented human case.
- On May 23, Mexican health authorities reported the confirmed human case to WHO. The patient, a 59-year-old individual, was hospitalized in Mexico City and later showed symptoms such as fever, shortness of breath, diarrhea, nausea, and general malaise.
- The epidemiological outbreak of H5N2 avian influenza in poultry farms highlights the necessity for stringent biosecurity measures. Continuous surveillance and preventive steps are crucial to mitigating any potential spread, even though the current risk to the general population remains low according to WHO estimates.
- In contrast, an outbreak of the H5N1 avian flu strain has affected dairy cow herds in the United States over the past few weeks. Despite a few human cases, no human-to-human transmission has been reported.
