A man in Mexico has died in the first confirmed case of a new strain of bird flu.
A virus that has made an “unpleasant journey” in recent years.
– WHO is really keeping an eye on this, says Björn Olson, professor of infectious diseases.
On April 24, a 59-year-old man died in Mexico after suddenly suffering from acute diarrhea, fever and shortness of breath. According to the World Health Organization, WHO, the man was infected with H5N2 bird flu – the first confirmed case in a human.
Several media have reported that the man should not have come into contact with animals in connection with his illness. But according to Björn Olsen, professor of infectious diseases, it is highly unlikely.
– He has probably had some contact with animals, even if it was short-lived. He may have walked through a chicken coop or a flock of birds and been infected that way. There is no other reasonable explanation, he says in TV4’s Efter fem.
“Aggressive and dangerous”
The virus is transmitted via birds or other animals. There is currently no evidence that people can infect each other.
The first Swedish case of bird flu was discovered in vultures in 2006. Since then, there have been regular outbreaks, but so far no one has died from the disease in Sweden.
But after an increase in outbreaks of the H5N1 type, the WHO has warned that it risks leading to “catastrophic consequences”. And according to Björn Olsen, the original virus variant is significantly more frightening than the new H5N2.
– It has made an unpleasant journey in recent years, where it came from wild birds as a kind virus from the beginning. It entered flocks of domestic birds and has converted to an aggressive and more dangerous virus. Then it leaked out and began to circulate in nature, he says.
Over 50 percent mortality
Since 2003, just under 900 people have been infected in the world – and over 50 percent of them have died.
– When this type of virus starts to behave in this way, you have to make sure you have good monitoring and limitless reporting of cases, so that you see exactly what is going on, says Björn Olsen and continues:
– So far there is no danger on the roof, but the WHO is really keeping an eye on this.