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A person in Mexico has become the first human in the world to die from the new bird flu strain, WHO confirmed on Wednesday. The 59-year-old died on April 24 after developing a fever, shortness of breath, diarrhea, nausea, and general discomfort, the organization said. This was the first laboratory-confirmed human case of infection with A(H5N2) subtype of bird flu reported globally, and the first H5 virus infection in a person reported in Mexico .

Bird flu victim's five symptoms before dying of new strain sweeping the US Urgent health warning issued as new bird flu symptom a 'dangerous' sign WHO said the victim had no history of exposure to poultry or other animals. The source of exposure to the virus in the case is currently unknown. The victim had multiple underlying medical conditions and had been bedridden for three weeks prior to the onset of acute symptoms, WHO said.



WHO has said the current risk to the general population posed by the bird flu virus is still low. The current bird flu outbreak in US dairy cows, meanwhile, is being driven by a different strain - H5N1. That strain of the bird flu virus has been spreading among more animal species in scores of countries since 2020.

It was detected in US dairy herds in March, although investigators think it may have been in cows since December. Last week, the USDA announced it had been found in alpacas for the first time. At least three people in the US — all workers at farms with infected cows — have been diagnosed with .

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