New Delhi: The World Health Organization (WHO) on Sunday stated that the first human case of H5N1 bird flu that was reported in a child in Australia had a travel history to India. Following this, WHO on Wednesday confirmed the second human case of avian influenza A (H9N2) virus in a 4-year-old child in India, the first case was reported in West Bengal in 2019.
The global health body in a press release said this is the second human infection of the avian influenza A (H9N2) virus that has been notified to WHO from India, with the first one reported in 2019. As per reports, the child has recovered and was discharged from the hospital.
Symptoms the patient experienced
As per WHO, the child showed symptoms of fever and abdominal pain on January 26. Following this, the 4-year-old was admitted to the pediatric intensive care unit (ICU) of a local hospital due to continuous chronic respiratory distress, recurrent high-grade fever and abdominal pain, the child also developed seizures earlier as well.
After the tests were done, it was found that the child was positive for Influenza B and adenovirus. The tests were conducted at the Virus Research and Diagnostic Laboratory at the local government hospital. The condition of the child was depleted and due to this the child was shifted to another government hospital and was admitted to the pediatric ICU where the child was intubated.
On March 5, a nasopharyngeal swab was sent to the Kolkata Virus Research and Diagnostic Laboratory where the child tested positive for influenza A (non-sub type) and rhinovirus, reported the WHO. While on May 1, the patient was discharged from the hospital with oxygen support.
How the child contracted the virus
The possible reason behind the cause of this infection as per reports is the exposure to poultry. However, human cases are very rare but have been reported, typically in those individuals who are in close contact with the poultry. This is the second case of Bird flu reported in India after 2019.
The World Health Organization in a press release said this is the second human infection of the avian influenza A (H9N2) virus that has been notified to the global health body from India, with the first one reported in 2019. As per reports, the child has recovered and was discharged from the hospital. Health Conditions Health News: Latest News from Health Care, Mental Health, Weight Loss, Disease, Nutrition, Healthcare
