The World Health Organization (WHO) said on Wednesday, that Mexico recorded the first laboratory-confirmed human case of infection with a subtype of avian influenza, resulting in the death of one person.
According to WHO, the 59-year-old had died on April 24 after developing a fever, shortness of breath, diarrhea, nausea and general discomfort.
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This was the first laboratory-confirmed human case of infection with A(H5N2) subtype of bird flu reported globally and the first H5 virus infection in a person reported in Mexico.
The victim had no history of exposure to poultry or other animals, WHO said. Cases of A(H5N2) subtype of the bird flu have been reported in poultry in Mexico.
The person had multiple underlying medical conditions and had been bedridden for three weeks, for other reasons, prior to the onset of acute symptoms, WHO said.
Avian Influenza (AI) type A viruses are divided into subtypes based on two proteins on the surface of the virus: Hemagglutinin (HA), of which there are 16 subtypes (H1-H16) Neuraminidase (NA), of which there are 9 subtypes (N1-N9) Many combinations of HA and NA proteins are possible (i.e., H5N1, H5N2, H7N2, H7N8, etc).
NBC News
