Push Admin

The purple pods that you see in this scanning electron micrograph are the H5N2 avian flu virus, a costly threat to the poultry and egg industry and, in very rare instances, a health risk for humans. However, these particular pods are unlikely to infect anything because they are trapped in a gray mesh of carbon nanotubes. Made by linking carbon atoms into a cylindrical pattern, such nanotubes are about 10,000 times smaller than width of a human hair. Credit: Penn State University

Article (news)

H5N2 avian flu virus 06072024

Agence France-Presse

<p>GENEVA — A man infected with H5N2 bird flu, the first confirmed human infection with the strain, died from multiple factors, the WHO said on Friday, adding that investigations were ongoing.</p><p>The World Health Organization announced on Wednesday that the first laboratory-confirmed human case of infection with H5N2 avian influenza virus had been reported from Mexico.</p><p>Mexico&#x27;s health ministry said the 59-year-old man had &quot;a history of chronic kidney disease, type 2 diabetes (and) long-standing systemic arterial hypertension&quot;.</p><p>He had been bedridden for three weeks prior to the onset of acute symptoms, developing fever, shortness of breath, diarrhoea, nausea and general malaise on April 17.</p><p>The man was taken to hospital in Mexico City on April 24 and died later that day.</p><div><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/lifestyle/health-wellness/2024/6/6/who-confirms-first-fatal-human-case-of-h5n2-bird-flu-1516">READ: WHO confirms first fatal human case of H5N2 bird flu</a></div><p>&quot;The death is a multi-factorial death, not a death attributable to H5N2,&quot; WHO spokesman Christian Lindmeier told a media briefing in Geneva on Friday.</p><p>&quot;The patient came to the hospital after weeks of multi-factorial background of multi other diseases.&quot;</p><p>His body was subsequently routinely tested for flu and other viruses, and H5N2 was detected, Lindmeier said.</p><p>Seventeen contacts of the case in the hospital were identified. All tested negative for influenza.</p><p>In the man&#x27;s place of residence, 12 contacts in the weeks beforehand were identified. All likewise tested negative.</p><p>&quot;Investigations are ongoing. Serology is ongoing. That means the blood testing of contacts to see if there was any possible earlier infection,&quot; said Lindmeier.</p><p>&quot;At this point in time, as its multi-factorial, it&#x27;s a multi-factorial death.</p><p>&quot;But the infection of H5N2 is being investigated to see whether he was infected by somebody visiting or by any contact with any animals before.&quot;</p><p>The WHO said on Wednesday the source of exposure to the virus was currently unknown, though H5N2 viruses have been reported in poultry in Mexico.</p><p>Based on available information, the United Nations&#x27; health agency assesses the current risk to the general population posed by the virus as low.</p><div><strong>Low food risk</strong></div><p>Markus Lipp, senior food safety officer at the UN&#x27;s Food and Agriculture Organization, explained why the risk of contracting avian influenza though eating poultry was &quot;negligibly low&quot;.</p><p>&quot;In all the hundred years of avian influenza... there has not been any demonstrated food-borne transmission,&quot; he told the briefing, via video-link from the FAO&#x27;s headquarters in Rome.</p><p>&quot;Animal handlers, of course, who are in extremely close contact with animals may get an infection but it&#x27;s an occupational risk. It&#x27;s not a food-borne transmission.</p><p>&quot;Humans do not have avian influenza receptors in their gastro-intestinal tract, contrary to certain animal species, as far as we know.</p><p>&quot;So there is a very slim likelihood, just from that perspective.&quot;</p><p>Of all the food safety risks when eating poultry, &quot;probably the lowest risk is connected to avian influenza. There are many other microbiological risks that are more likely to cause harm to consumers if food is inadequately prepared,&quot; he said.</p><div><br/></div><div><strong>© Agence France-Presse</strong></div><div><br/></div><div><br/></div><div><br/></div>

First human case of H5N2 died from multiple factors: WHO

News

Entertainment

Lifestyle

Sports

Metro.Style

More

Traffic

Manila

Horoscope

Wellness

First human case of H5N2 died from multiple factors: WHO

Agence France-Presse

Published Jun 07, 2024 08:59 PM PHT

Read More:

Bird Flu

H5N2 Avian Flu

World Health Organization

ABS-CBN is the leading media and entertainment company in the Philippines, offering quality content across TV, radio, digital, and film. Committed to public service and promoting Filipino values, ABS-CBN continues to inspire and connect audiences worldwide.

Corporate

Investors

Governance

International Distribution

Corporate

Governance

Investors

International Distribution

NPC Seal of Registration

Privacy Policy

AI Policy

Terms of Service

Advertise with Us

© 2025 ABS-CBN Corporation. All Rights Reserved.

NPC Seal of Registration

Privacy Policy

Terms of Service

AI Policy

Advertise with Us

© 2025 ABS-CBN Corporation. All Rights Reserved.

NPC Seal of Registration

Privacy Policy

Terms of Service

AI Policy

Advertise with Us

© 2025 ABS-CBN Corporation. All Rights Reserved.