Geneva (Switzerland), June 6 (HBTV): A 59-year-old man in Mexico City who contracted a subtype of bird flu has died in Mexico City, the World Health Organization (WHO) said.  

The man, who had prior health complications, died in hospital on April 24 after developing a fever, shortness of breath, diarrhea, nausea, and general discomfort, the WHO said in a statement on Wednesday, local time. 

This marks the first laboratory-confirmed human case of infection with an influenza A (H5N2) virus reported globally and the first avian H5 virus infection in a person reported in Mexico, the WHO said. 

"Although the source of exposure to the virus in this case is currently unknown, A (H5N2) viruses have been reported in poultry in Mexico," the WHO said.   

The global health body said that the current risk to the general population posed by this virus is low.

The patient had no history of exposure to poultry or other animals but had had multiple underlying medical conditions and was bedridden for three weeks, for other reasons, prior to the onset of acute symptoms, the WHO said.     

The health agency said it's not been possible to establish whether this human case is related to the recent poultry outbreaks.  

In March 2024, a high pathogenicity avian influenza A(H5N2) outbreak was detected in a backyard poultry farm in the state of Michoacan, which borders the State of Mexico where the patient was residing.   

Additionally, in March 2024, an outbreak of low pathogenicity avian influenza (LPAI) A(H5N2) was identified in poultry in Texcoco, State of Mexico, and a second outbreak of LPAI A(H5N2) in April in the municipality of Temascalapa in the same state. Thus far, it has not been possible to establish if this human case is related to the recent poultry outbreaks.   

Australia's first human case of A (H5N1) infection was reported in May, but there were no signs of transmission.

The first detection of the H7 HPAI strain was confirmed on May 22 this year at a poultry farm near Meredith, Victoria. On May 24, Agriculture Victoria's tracing activities identified a separate H7 HPAI strain on a poultry farm near Terang. On June 3 ,H7 HPAI was confirmed at a third Victorian poultry farm.     

"Avian influenza virus has been confirmed at a fourth Victorian poultry farm," the Australian government said in a statement on Wednesday as cited by Reuters. 

(ANI) This is a syndicated news feed. HBTV has edited it for clarity.