A 59-year-old man in Mexico with prior health complications has died after contracting the A(H5N2) strain of bird flu, the World Health Organization (WHO) announced, although the risk to the general public from the virus remains low. The man died in Mexico City in April after displaying symptoms including fever, shortness of breath, diarrhea, and nausea. He had underlying health conditions such as chronic kidney failure, diabetes, and high blood pressure, which put him at a higher risk of severe influenza. However, the source of his infection is unknown, and no further human cases have been discovered despite testing people who came into contact with him at home and in the hospital.
The WHO stated that this was the first laboratory-confirmed human case of infection with an influenza A(H5N2) virus globally. Cases of A(H5N2) have been reported in poultry in Mexico, including at a backyard chicken farm in Michoacan state, which borders Mexico State where the man lived. However, authorities have been unable to establish a connection between these cases and the man who died. Despite this, the WHO assessed the risk to the general population posed by this virus as low, and Mexico’s Ministry of Health also stated that there was no risk of contagion for the population.
Authorities in Mexico are monitoring farms near the victim’s home and have established a permanent monitoring system to detect other cases in wildlife in the area. A different variant of bird flu, A(H5N1), has been spreading among dairy cow herds in the US, with a small number of cases reported among humans. Bird flu varieties have previously killed people across the world, including 18 people in China during an outbreak of A(H5N6) in 2021. Since 1997, H5 viruses have shown a propensity to infect mammals more than any other avian influenza virus, which highlights the need for vigilance in monitoring for these infections to prevent further spillovers.
The man who died in Mexico had been bedridden for three weeks before developing acute symptoms, which included fever, shortness of breath, diarrhea, and nausea. He sought hospital care on April 24 and died on the same day. Initial tests showed an unidentified type of flu, which subsequent lab testing confirmed was A(H5N2). The man’s prior health conditions, such as chronic kidney failure, diabetes, and high blood pressure, put him at a higher risk of severe influenza, although the source of his infection remains unknown.
While no further human cases of infection with the A(H5N2) virus have been discovered, authorities in Mexico are monitoring farms and wildlife in the area to detect any other potential cases. The WHO and Mexico’s Ministry of Health both stated that the risk to the general population from this virus is low, and efforts are being made to prevent further spread. As H5 viruses have shown a tendency to infect mammals and have caused previous outbreaks of bird flu, it is essential to remain vigilant and monitor for any potential infections to prevent further spread and protect public health.
