WHO Confirms human case pf Bird Flu in India

The World Health Organization (WHO), on Tuesday, confirmed a human case of bird flu in India. Caused by the H9N2 virus, the infection was detected in a four-year-old child in West Bengal, the health body said.

The child has been admitted to the pediatric intensive care unit (ICU) of a local hospital after struggling with persistent severe respiratory issues. This is the second H9N2 bird flu case in India; the first was reported back in 2019.

A two-and-a-half-year-old girl on June 7 tested positive for H5N1 bird flu and was admitted to an intensive care unit in Australia. She had recently travelled to India.

Bird flu, also called Avian influenza, is caused by infection with avian (bird) influenza (flu) Type A viruses. As per WHO, it usually gets transferred among animals, but it can also infect humans. 

The infection spreads through direct contact with infected animals or indirect contact with contaminated environments.

The infection may cause diseases ranging from mild upper respiratory tract infections to more severe diseases. Apart from this, other symptoms of Avian Influenza virus infection include:

• Conjunctivitis
• Gastrointestinal symptoms
• Encephalitis
• Encephalopathy

The WHO says that Avian Influenza virus infection can also prove to be fatal.