A 59-year-old man in Mexico has died from a strain of bird flu called H5N2, marking the first known human infection with this strain. The World Health Organization (WHO) has issued an alert, as scientists monitor the virus for signs of adaptation to humans. Despite no known exposure to poultry, the man developed symptoms and later tested positive for H5N2. Health officials are investigating the source of infection and monitoring for further cases.
The World Health Organization (WHO) has confirmed the first human fatality from the H5N2 variant of bird flu. The patient, a 59-year-old Mexican with underlying health conditions, passed away on April 24th after experiencing fever, shortness of breath, diarrhea, and nausea. The WHO emphasizes that the patient had no known exposure to poultry or other animals. The source of the infection remains unknown, despite reported H5N2 outbreaks among poultry in Mexico’s Michoacan and State of Mexico regions. The WHO assesses the risk to humans as low, noting that no human-to-human transmission has been detected, unlike the H5N1 variant that has affected dairy cows and a limited number of humans in the United States.
