The very first human case of H5N2 has been found in Mexico, and this sounds like an alarming piece of news. Here, we discuss this very first human case of the bird flu.
A novel kind of virus led a 59- year old Mexican man lose his life recently. The virus is known to be a subtype of the avian influenza.
According to WHO, this is the very first confirmed instance of human infection caught by the H5N2 subtype virus. The incident took place in Mexico.
The very first case: What were the symptoms?
Diarrhea, shortness of breath, fever, and bodily discomfort were some of the symptoms affecting the man. It was on April 24 when the ma passed away. The man was admitted to a hospital situated in the Mexico City. For over three weeks, the man was bedridden before he passed away. The World Health Organization confirmed that this was the very first case an infection of H5N2 in the human body.
No contact with poultry?
WHO says that no other cases of the H5N2 virus have affected humans as of now. It is important to note that that the man did not actually have any contact with poultry. At present, it is the H5N1 strain of the virus that is affecting the United States.
It was at the National Institute of Respiratory Diseases that the man sought medical care from on April 24. The reports suggest that the man passed away on April 24.
The point of contact of the infection is still unknown. The virus strain was actually reported in the poultry based in Mexico. However, surprisingly, the man did not have any history of contact with animals or poultry. This sounds like an alarming concern in its own.
The H5N1 and the H5N2- The similarities, the differences!
The H5N1 and the H5N2 viruses actually have different types of subtypes and strains. These, however, are two distinct forms of bird flu that are present in animals and poultry. In rare cases, these are found in humans as well.
