The World Health Organization (WHO) confirmed that a man from Mexico died from the bird flu, caused by a strain not previously found in humans. The specific strain is called H5N2. According to the WHO, it remains unclear how the 59-year-old man contracted the virus.
H5N2 has been reported in poultry in Mexico, although the man had not been exposed to poultry or other animals. The victim had multiple underlying medical conditions including diabetes, chronic kidney failure and high blood pressure. His family informed the agency that he had been bedridden for three weeks before developing a fever on April 17.
The man also experienced shortness of breath, diarrhea and nausea, leading to his hospitalization on April 24. Doctors confirmed the illness as avian influenza H5N2.
People who were in contact with the infected man were all tested, and the results came back negative for bird flu. Notably, this particular strain, H5N2, differs from the strain infecting dairy cow herds, wild birds and poultry flocks across the United States, which is H5N1. H5N1 has been transmitted to three dairy farm workers in the last three months, all of whom suffered mild cases.
Richard Webby, a flu researcher at St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, emphasized that while the risk to humans is currently low, viruses can change over time.
“The more opportunities we give this virus to grow in different hosts and environments, the higher the risk to humans,” Webby said.
Scientists are actively working on developing an mRNA vaccine for current bird flu strains affecting both cows and humans. This effort aims to prepare for potential mutations that could increase transmissibility and lethality.
WHO maintains its existing recommendations for public health measures and surveillance of influenza.
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