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Dr Gérald Kierzek (Medical Director of Doctissimo)
The very first death caused by H5N2 avian flu was confirmed in Mexico by the World Health Organization, which referred to a “multifactorial” death. Should we be worried? The opinion of Dr Gérald Kierzek, emergency physician and medical director of Doctissimo.
The H5N2 bird flu has claimed its first victim in the world. He is a 59-year-old Mexican who died on April 24 after being hospitalized in a specialized institute in the country’s capital. This first death was certified by the World Health Organization (WHO), which emphasizes that it is “of the first laboratory-confirmed human case of infection with an influenza A (H5N2) virus“.
A death described as “multifactorial” and “not attributable to the H5N2 virus”
After the death of this fifty-year-old, the WHO announces that it will continue its investigations to precisely define the origin of this infection but has already announced that this death is “multifactorial”. In fact, the patient was already suffering.chronic kidney disease, Type 2 diabetes” And, “for a long time of systemic arterial hypertension” Mexican authorities report.
Bedridden for three weeks already before his symptoms appeared, he ended up experiencing fever, shortness of breath, diarrhea, nausea and general malaise, starting on April 17, before dying a week later. “This is a multifactorial death and not a death attributable to the H5N2 virus.” said a WHO spokesperson, Christian Lindmeier, during a press briefing in Geneva. “Patient arrived at hospital after weeks of multifactorial medical history“.
Should we be worried about the situation?
It was only subsequently, therefore, by carrying out various examinations, that the H5N2 virus was detected in the patient. “He did not die from the virus but with the H5N2 virus” believes Dr Gérald Kierzek. “His serious medical history largely contributed to his death. adds the medical director of Doctissimo. “And even without viral contamination, his days were clearly numbered”.
According to investigations carried out after the viral discovery, no other cases were detected among the victim’s relatives or in the hospital. Still according to the WHO spokesperson, “H5N2 infection is being investigated to determine whether he was infected by a person during a visit or by previous contact with animals.”.
The H5N2 virus was identified last March in poultry in several Mexican states. The Mexican Ministry of Health considered that “there was no risk for the population”. In France, Public Health France has the same opinion, judging that “the risk of transmission to humans of avian influenza viruses with zoonotic potential currently circulating is low..
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