THE World Health Organization has reported a human death from a new strain of bird flu.
The 59-year-old Mexico resident died on April 24 after developing a fever, shortness of breath, diarrhoea, nausea and general discomfort.
A WHO spokesperson said: “This is the first laboratory-confirmed human case of infection with an influenza A(H5N2) virus reported globally, and the first A(H5) virus infection in a person reported in Mexico.
“The case had multiple underlying conditions, and the investigation by the health authorities in Mexico is ongoing to determine the likely source of exposure to the virus.”
The victim had no history of exposure to poultry or other animals, officials said.
From tongue scraping to saying no, here are 12 health trends to try in 2023
Cases of A(H5N2) subtype of avian influenza have been reported in poultry in Mexico.
The person had been bedridden for three weeks, for other reasons, prior to the onset of acute symptoms, WHO said.
Their underlying ailments included chronic kidney failure, diabetes and high blood pressure.
They then developed a fever, shortness of breath, diarrhoea, nausea and general discomfort.
They were hospitalised a week later but died the same day due to complications.
The risk posed by the new strain is said to be low, and no further human cases have been reported.
People who came into contact with the virus are undergoing testing.
Bird flu has infected mammals such as seals, raccoons, bears and cattle, primarily due to contact with infected birds.
Scientists are on alert for changes in the virus that could signal it is adapting to spread more easily among humans.
There are numerous types of bird flu.
How to de-clutter if you have a beauty stash to last you a lifetime
A 56-year-old woman in China died after contracting H3N8 in 2023.
She is believed to caught the virus at a wet market.
In 2021, 18 people were killed by H5N6 in China, according to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
A year later, China reported a human case of H5N1 following exposure to poultry.
The person developed critical illness and later died.
Andrew Pekosz, an influenza expert at Johns Hopkins University, said that since 1997, H5 viruses have continuously shown a propensity to infect mammals more than any other avian influenza virus.
"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," he added.
