Mexico Reports First Human Bird Flu Death: 3-Year-Old Girl

MEXICO CITY — In a tragic development, the first human case of bird flu has been confirmed in western Mexico, resulting in the death of a young girl, the country’s health authorities announced on Tuesday. The Health Ministry stated that the 3-year-old girl from the state of Durango succumbed to respiratory complications linked to the avian influenza infection early Tuesday.
The Type A H5N1 influenza strain has been making rounds among animals and some humans in the United States, with the World Health Organization having documented 70 cases over the past year. However, there are indications from researchers and studies that the actual number could be higher than reported.
Prior to her death, the young girl was admitted to a hospital in the adjacent state of Coahuila. Last Friday, health officials officially reported her case as Mexico’s first recorded human infection of bird flu.
At this point, authorities have not determined how the girl became infected with the virus. To uncover more details, investigators have been conducting tests on wild birds in the area surrounding her residence.
In reassuring news, health officials confirmed that out of 38 people who had been in contact with the girl, all tested negative for the virus, indicating a minimal risk of further human transmission, according to the official statement.