Bird flu claims its first human victim, and there are more cases
In a disease outbreak press release issued this week, the World Health Organization revealed that the first human death caused by avian influenza A was reported this spring in Mexico.
At the same time, more cases related to strains of avian flu, or bird flu, have been identified in the U.S.
“This is the first laboratory-confirmed human case of infection with an influenza A (H5N2) virus reported globally,” said the WHO of the Mexican case.
While the organization said the origin of the fatal infection is unknown, it noted that there have been reported cases of the virus among poultry at Mexican farms. Still, the victim – a 59-year-old – did not have any reported contact with poultry or other animals.
They did have underlying medical conditions and were bedridden for three weeks for other reasons before acute symptoms began. By April 17, they developed fever, shortness of breath, diarrhea, nausea and general malaise. Around a week later, they sought medical attention and were hospitalized at the National Institute of Respiratory Diseases in Mexico City, dying the same day.
Per the WHO, test results from 12 contacts near the case’s residence were pending as of Wednesday.
“According to the IHR (2005), a human infection caused by a novel influenza A virus subtype is an event that has the potential for high public health impact and must be notified to the WHO,” said the organization. “Based on available information, WHO assesses the current risk to the general population posed by this virus as low.”
In the U.S., the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) announced Thursday that a second human case of bird flu had been confirmed in Michigan. In late May, WWJ reported that the health department reported “the first case of bird flu in a human in the state, which is only the second confirmed human case in the U.S.
this year.”
A farm worker who was around livestock was the infected with the virus in the state. They recovered after reporting mild symptoms as of May 22.
“Of the three human cases of highly pathogenic avian influenza found in the U.S. this year, we know most about the Texas patient, since researchers quickly published a case report in the New England Journal of Medicine,” said Slate regarding the U.S. cases reported so far. “That person worked on a dairy farm, and only experienced conjunctivitis (also known as pink eye) from the virus. They told officials they came into close contact with both healthy and sick cows, and reported wearing gloves but not respiratory or eye protection.”
The first person who tested positive for H5N1 in Michigan also had eye-related symptoms, said Slate.
“But pink eye is a less concerning symptom than signs of a respiratory infection: It’s easier to come into contact with tiny droplets from a cough or a sneeze than someone’s tears,” the outlet explained. “This is one of the reasons why the most recent case out of Michigan has raised scientists’ concerns.”
As of Thursday, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration had “issued a letter to all states regarding the sale and consumption of raw milk as part of the agency’s ongoing work to protect both human and animal health during the outbreak of Highly Pathogenic H5N1 Avian Influenza (H5N1 HPAI) virus in dairy cattle.”
