New Variant of Bird Flu Detected in Humans
Health Officials Issue Warning
Cases Reported Worldwide
WEB H5N2, a new subtype of the avian influenza virus, has been detected in humans for the first time. The virus, which can cause severe illness in birds, has been circulating in poultry populations worldwide for several years.
The World Health Organization (WHO) has issued a warning about the new virus, saying that it is closely monitoring the situation and working with health authorities around the world to assess the risk to humans.
So far, there have been 863 cases of human infection with avian influenza AH5N1 virus reported globally from January 2003 to 31 March 2022. The majority of cases have been reported in Asia, with a smaller number of cases in Africa, Europe, and North America.
The new H5N2 variant was first detected in humans in 2021. It was the first laboratory-confirmed human case of infection with an influenza AH5N2 virus globally and the first avian H5 virus reported in a human in the United States.
The virus is thought to have jumped from birds to humans through contact with infected poultry or their secretions.
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