India has reported the first bird flu death in 2021
New Delhi: India confirmed its first bird flu death of the year when a 12-year-old kid died at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences while receiving treatment for H5N1 Avian Influenza (AIIMS). The youngster died in AIIM’s paediatric section after the incident on Tuesday (July 20).
“After the diagnosis, the 12-year-old kid being treated in the hospital’s D5 ward was discovered to be infected with H5N1 (Avian flu). Leukemia and pneumonia were both present in the youngster. He was receiving treatment and was admitted to the AIIMS ICU in Delhi “Officials from the AIIMS confirmed this. “All personnel who had contact with him should keep an eye out for flu-like symptoms and notify them if they appear,” AIIMS officials added.
COVID-19 and influenza tests were performed while the patient was getting therapy. “COVID-19 was found to be absent in his samples. It tested positive for influenza but was unable to be typed. It was transferred to the National Institute of Virology in Pune, where it was proven to be H5N1 avian influenza positive “according to a source The National Center for Disease Control (NCDC) has been informed of the case, and their staff has begun contact tracing to check whether there are any other instances with similar symptoms with whom the youngster has come into touch, according to the source.
What exactly is bird flu?
Highly Pathogenic Asian Avian Influenza (H5N1) Virus is an acronym for Highly Pathogenic Asian Avian Influenza (H5N1) Virus. Avian influenza is an influenza virus subtype that primarily affects birds but can also affect humans. Contact with sick birds is the most common way to catch this strain of flu. It’s also possible to transmit it along from one person to the next. Human infections of H5N1 are uncommon, according to the WHO, but if infected, the fatality rate is around 60%.
Almost all human cases of H5N1 infection have been linked to close contact with infected live or dead birds, as well as H5N1-contaminated settings. Avian influenza virus is transmitted by infected birds in their saliva, mucus, and excrement. When enough virus enters a person’s eyes, nose, or mouth, or is inhaled, human infections with bird flu viruses can occur.
