Updated: | Originally published:
A person died in Mexico after contracting a strain of bird flu that had not been confirmed in humans before, the World Health Organization said Wednesday.
The virus was detected in a 59-year-old man who had been hospitalized in Mexico City. The person died a week after developing a fever, shortness of breath and diarrhea. It is the first laboratory-confirmed case of a person contracting a form of bird flu known as H5N2, the WHO said in a statement, raising questions about a strain that has largely been under the radar. The current outbreak of bird flu in dairy cows in the US is being driven by a different strain – H5N1.
The patient, who lived in Central Mexico, had no history of exposure to birds or other animals and had underlying medical conditions. The Mexican government does not know where the patient was exposed to the virus, although the strain of bird flu has been reported in poultry in the Mexican state where the person lived.
No other cases of H5N2 have been identified in humans, according to the WHO, which said the current risk posed by the virus to the general public is low.
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
The patient who died was bedridden for three weeks “for other reasons” before the onset of acute symptoms, the WHO said, citing the patient’s family.
Mexican authorities reported the fatal human case to the WHO on May 23, after confirming the presence of the virus.
This story originally appeared on Time.com read the full story
