New Delhi: The World Health Organisation (WHO) has recently reported a human death from a new strain of bird flu – a 59-year-old man passed away in Mexico. He developed a fever, diarrhoea, nausea, shortness of breath and general discomfort. A spokesperson of the WHO also said that this is the first-ever lab-confirmed case of the infection, the influenza A(H5N2) virus which is reported globally and is also the first A(H5) virus infection. Doctors said that the case was associated with several health problems and health authorities are now focused on detecting and ascertaining the source of the virus and its exposure.
As per the WHO, the victim did not have a history of exposure to the virus. But so far, cases of A(H5N2) of bird flu have been reported in poultry in Mexico. The patient was also bed ridden for weeks before the symptoms started to appear.
What is bird flu?
The H5N2 is a sub-type of the avian influenza virus. This subtype is likely to affect a variety of birds such as ducks, chickens, flacons, ostriches and turkeys. Birds affected by the same do not usually look ill, but it can also get transmitted to humans. When it affects humans, the virus is likely to result in mild to severe infections of the upper respiratory tract. However, it must never be taken lightly as it can be fatal as well.
What are the symptoms of bird flu?
Doctors have for a long time raised concerns regarding rising cases of bird flu and have said that it is likely to be 100 times more powerful than coronavirus. Experts said that it is further important to highlight that the strain could be different from the first reported ones. All workers at the farms have said that infected cows in the area have been diagnosed with bird flu, but the disease is said to be mostly mild.
Some of the key symptoms of bird flu in humans are:
Red eyes, conjunctivitis
Cough
Sore throat
Feever
Headaches
Fatigue
Muscle ache
Runny nose
Stuffy nose
Nausea
Seizures
Vomiting
Diarrhoea
Shortness of breath
As per the WHO, the victim did not have a history of exposure to the virus. But so far, cases of A(H5N2) of bird flu have been reported in poultry in Mexico. The patient was also bed ridden for weeks before the symptoms started to appear. Health News Health News: Latest News from Health Care, Mental Health, Weight Loss, Disease, Nutrition, Healthcare
