The World Health Organisation (WHO) said Mexico has reported the first-ever laboratory-confirmed human case of the H5N2 avian influenza (bird flu).
In a statement on Wednesday, the WHO said the Mexico International Health Regulations (IHR) national focal point (NFP) reported the case on May 23.
The WHO said the human case was a 59-year-old resident who had developed a fever, shortness of breath, diarrhoea, nausea, and general discomfort.
The global health agency added that the victim had no history of exposure to poultry or other animals but had multiple underlying medical conditions.
“Although the source of exposure to the virus in this case is currently unknown, H5N2 viruses have been reported in poultry in Mexico,” the statement reads.
“The case’s relatives reported that the case had already been bedridden for three weeks, for other reasons, prior to the onset of acute symptoms.
“On April 17 April, the case developed fever, shortness of breath, diarrhoea, nausea and general malaise.
“On 24 April, the case sought medical attention, was hospitalized at the National Institute of Respiratory Diseases ‘Ismael Cosio Villegas’ (INER per its acronym in Spanish) and died the same day due to complications of his condition.”
The WHO said this is the first laboratory-confirmed human case of the H5N2 virus reported globally.
“No further cases were reported during the epidemiological investigation. Of the 17 contacts identified and monitored at the hospital where the case died, one reported a runny nose between 28 and 29 April,” the organisation said.
