WHO warns first human case of H5N2 virus infection died due to many factors

Speaking to reporters in Geneva (Switzerland), WHO spokesman Christian Lindmeier said the above case died due to many factors, not the H5N2 virus. According to Mr. Lindmeier, the test results of this person's sample showed positive for the H5N2 virus. Health officials also identified 17 people who had contact with the patient at the hospital, but the test results were negative for the flu virus. 12 people who had contact at the patient's home several weeks earlier were identified and also tested negative. Currently, authorities are investigating the source of infection for the above case.

The 59-year-old man had a history of chronic kidney disease, type 2 diabetes and long-standing high blood pressure, the Mexican Ministry of Health said. He had been in bed for three weeks before developing acute symptoms of fever, shortness of breath, diarrhea, nausea and malaise on April 17. He was taken to a hospital in Mexico City a week later and died on April 24.

The information was released after the WHO announced on June 5 that it had recorded the first case of H5N2 virus infection in humans in Mexico. According to the WHO, so far it has not been possible to determine the connection between the above human infection and the spread of H5N2 virus in poultry. The WHO also assessed that the risk to humans is "low".

On the same day, June 7, WHO announced that the first human case of H5N1 bird flu virus recorded in Australia last month had arrived in Kolkata, India. The patient's family said they had not come into contact with infected people or animals while in India.

According to the WHO, the case is a 2.5-year-old girl who traveled to Kolkata from February 12 to 19 and returned to Australia on March 1. She was hospitalized in Victoria the following day and has been treated there for more than 2 weeks. The WHO said the girl is reported to be in good health and as of May 22, she has no relatives in Australia or India with flu symptoms.

In the US, the Wyoming Department of Agriculture announced on June 7 that it had detected bird flu in a dairy herd in the state. Since late March, bird flu has been recorded in more than 80 dairy herds across 10 US states. Scientists warn that the flu virus is mutating to easily spread from animals to humans.