1st known human case of H5N2 bird flu kills person in Mexico

A person in Mexico has died after catching the first known human case of H5N2 bird flu.

The fatal case marks the first time someone in Mexico has been sickened by any type of influenza A(H5) virus, the World Health Organization (WHO) reported Wednesday (June 5). This broad category of virus also includes the one currently circulating among U.S. dairy cows, called H5N1, which recently sickened three people who had close contact with cattle. 

When it's caused sporadic infections in people, H5N1 has led to severe pneumonia and death in at least 50% of cases. The recent fatality in Mexico shows that H5N2 can also be deadly to humans. 

The spread of bird flu to people is concerning, in part, because these viruses can be deadly. Another reason for concern is that the more times bird flu jumps into people, the more chances it has to pick up mutations and gain the ability to spread easily between humans. As of yet, no A(H5) viruses can sustainably spread from person to person, the WHO reported — but that could change in the future. 

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For now, though, "based on available information, WHO assesses the current risk to the general population posed by this virus [H5N2] as low," the agency reported. 

The recent case in Mexico involved a 59-year-old who developed fever, shortness of breath, diarrhea, nausea and general malaise in mid-April. The person sought medical treatment at a Mexico City hospital on April 24 but died the same day "due to complications of his condition." The individual had multiple underlying conditions and had already been bedridden for other reasons for three weeks prior to developing any bird flu symptoms, his relatives reported.