The World Health Organization has reported the first confirmed human case of the H5N2 virus, a strain of the avian influenza, in a 59-year-old man from Mexico who unfortunately passed away in April 2024.
While the man had no history of exposure to poultry or other animals carrying the virus, he did have several underlying health conditions and had been on bed rest for three weeks before experiencing severe symptoms.
The symptoms included nausea, fever, shortness of breath, and diarrhea, which led to his hospitalization and subsequent death just a week later.
Seventeen individuals who had been in contact with the man were identified and closely monitored in April and May. Out of those contacts, one person experienced a runny nose, but all tested negative for influenza and SARS-CoV-2.
Additionally, 12 more contacts were tested near the man’s place of residence, all of whom also tested negative for SARS-CoV-2, influenza A, and influenza B. While seven of the 12 individuals were symptomatic, the other five were asymptomatic.
The H5N2 virus has been previously reported in poultry in Mexico, with outbreaks of avian influenza with the A(H2N2) variant occurring in various locations.
Despite this, the World Health Organization has assessed that the risk posed by this virus to the general population of Mexico and the US is minimal and not a widespread threat to public safety and health.
Although there are no specific vaccines to prevent the H5N2 virus from infecting humans, antiviral treatments can be effective if administered early.
These treatments work best when started as soon as symptoms appear or immediately after exposure to the virus, even if no symptoms are present.
Alongside antiviral treatments, patients may be prescribed antibiotics to treat secondary bacterial infections.
In severe cases, patients may require a ventilator or dialysis and are often isolated in private hospital rooms to reduce the risk of spreading the virus to others.
Experts have emphasized that the H5N2 variant is not as likely to cause a pandemic as the H5N1 variant, which has a higher mortality rate.
Human transmission of the H5N2 virus is also low due to its limited ability to reproduce in the upper respiratory tract, reducing its potential to spread easily from human to human.
Therefore, the focus remains on monitoring and containing the H5N1 variant to prevent any future outbreaks.
