On Wednesday, the Chilean health ministry reported a positive H5N1 bird flu test result in a 53-year-old man from Tocopilla, a coastal city in northern Chile.
The patient is presently in a serious but stable condition with severe pneumonia, and it is unclear how he contracted the virus. Following the confirmation of avian influenza by the Institute of Public Health, health protocols were promptly activated, and samples were taken for further analysis.
The ministry is now investigating the source of the infection and the patient’s contacts to identify any other potential cases. While the H5N1 clade 2.3.4.4b has spread globally and recently to several mammals, only a handful of human cases have been reported following contact with infected birds.
However, the concern remains over the possibility of future variants leading to human-to-human transmission. This marks the first bird flu case in Chile and the second in South America after a 9-year-old girl in Ecuador was diagnosed with the virus in January. She was hospitalized but eventually recovered.
In recent weeks, there have been reports of H5N1 bird flu cases in various countries. In Jiangsu province, China, a woman tested positive for the virus, while in Cambodia, two individuals were infected with an older variant of H5N1.
Additionally, more than 500 sea lions in Chile and nearly 3,500 sea lions in Peru have died due to H5N1 outbreaks. These incidents highlight the concerning spread of the virus in birds and mammals, including humans. WHO official Dr. Sylvie Briand emphasized the seriousness of the situation and urged all countries to remain vigilant.
