The A(H5N2) strain of bird flu has caused the death of a man in Mexico who had prior health complications. The World Health Organization (WHO) announced the death of the 59-year-old man who died in Mexico City in April after experiencing symptoms such as fever, shortness of breath, diarrhoea, and nausea. The man had underlying health conditions including chronic kidney failure, diabetes, and high blood pressure. Initial tests showed an unidentified type of flu, which was later confirmed to be A(H5N2) after weeks of lab testing, marking the first laboratory-confirmed human case of infection with this virus globally.
The man’s prior health conditions put him at a higher risk of severe influenza, according to an influenza expert at Johns Hopkins University. The source of his exposure to the virus remains unknown, although cases of A(H5N2) have been reported in poultry in Mexico, including in the state where the man lived. Despite this, no further human cases have been discovered, and the WHO assesses the current risk to the general population posed by this virus as low. Mexican health authorities also stated that there is no risk of contagion for the population and have implemented monitoring measures to detect other cases in wildlife in the area.
A different variant of bird flu, A(H5N1), has been spreading among dairy cow herds in the US, with a small number of cases reported among humans. Various bird flu varieties have caused deaths across the world in previous years, including an outbreak of A(H5N6) in China in 2021 that resulted in 18 deaths. Since 1997, H5 viruses have shown a propensity to infect mammals more than any other avian influenza virus, highlighting the importance of monitoring for these infections and being vigilant about potential spillover events that could lead to mutations making the virus better at infecting humans.
The WHO and Mexican health authorities are closely monitoring the situation and have not found any further human cases of A(H5N2) despite testing individuals who came in contact with the deceased man. Authorities are monitoring farms near the victim’s home and have established a permanent monitoring system to detect other cases in wildlife in the area. The risk to the general population of contracting the virus is considered low, and efforts are being made to prevent any further spread of the virus to humans.
While the A(H5N2) strain of bird flu causing the death of a man in Mexico is concerning, the overall risk to the general population is deemed low. Health authorities are actively monitoring the situation and implementing measures to prevent further spread of the virus. The source of the man’s infection remains unknown, highlighting the need for continued vigilance and monitoring of avian influenza viruses to prevent potential spillover events that could lead to more severe outbreaks in humans.
