The World Health Organization announced on Friday that a man infected with the H5N2 bird flu virus, the first confirmed human infection with this strain, died as a result of several factors, noting that investigations are continuing to find out additional details about his infection and death.
The World Health Organization reported on Wednesday the first laboratory-confirmed human case of the H5N2 bird flu virus in Mexico.
The Mexican Ministry of Health explained that the 59-year-old man “suffered from chronic kidney disease and type 2 diabetes, and had been suffering from high blood pressure for a long time.”
He was bedridden for three weeks before severe symptoms appeared on April 17: fever, shortness of breath, diarrhea, and general discomfort.
The man was transferred to a hospital in Mexico City on April 24 and died the same day.
World Health Organization spokesman Christian Lindmeier said during a press conference in Geneva on Friday that “the death occurred due to several factors and not due to his infection with the H5N2 virus.”
He continued, “The patient came to the hospital after weeks of suffering from other diseases.”
He indicated that he underwent a routine test for influenza and other viruses, and it was found that he was infected with H5N2.
He identified 17 people who had been in contact with the man in the hospital, and all of their test results for influenza were negative.
At the man’s place of residence, he identified 12 people who had been in contact with him during the previous weeks, and their test results were also negative.
Lindmeier said, “Investigations are continuing. Serological analysis of those who came in contact with him is ongoing.”
He continued, “At this stage, we consider that the death was due to multiple factors.”
He added, “But his infection with H5N2 is under investigation, to determine whether he was infected with the virus through someone he visited or through contact with any infected animal.”