On Wednesday, the World Health Organization announced that a death had occurred due to the first confirmed case of human infection with a sub type of avian influenza in a laboratory. The individual, a 59-year-old resident of Mexico, passed away on April 24 after experiencing symptoms such as fever, difficulty breathing, diarrhea, nausea, and overall discomfort.
This case marks the first globally reported instance of laboratory-confirmed human infection with the A(H5N2) sub type of bird flu, as well as the first reported H5 virus infection in Mexico.The victim had no history of exposure to poultry or other animals, WHO said. Cases of A(H5N2) sub type of avian influenza have been reported in poultry in Mexico.
The person had multiple underlying medical conditions and had been bedridden for three weeks, for other reasons, prior to the onset of acute symptoms, WHO said.