A four-year-old child in West Bengal contracted the H9N2 bird flu virus, according to the World Health Organization (WHO) on June 11.
This incident marks the second known human infection of H9N2 bird flu in India, with the first case reported in 2019.
The child was admitted to a local hospital’s pediatric intensive care unit (ICU) in February due to severe respiratory issues, high fever, and abdominal cramps. After three months of diagnosis and treatment, the patient was discharged.
Family members okay
The WHO stated that the child had been exposed to poultry at home and in the surrounding area. No other individuals among family or contacts have reported respiratory illness symptoms.
Details regarding the patient’s vaccination status and antiviral treatment were not available.
While the H9N2 virus typically results in mild illness, the WHO warned of the potential for sporadic human cases, as it is one of the most widespread avian influenza viruses present in poultry across various regions.
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