A case of human infection with the H9N2 bird flu virus was reported in a four-year-old child in West Bengal, India, according to the World Health Organization (WHO) on June 11.
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, according to a report by Reuters.
The WHO stated that the child had been exposed to poultry at home and in the surrounding area, with no other individuals reporting respiratory illness symptoms among family or contacts.
Details regarding the patient's vaccination status and antiviral treatment were not available at the time Reuters reported the update.
This incident marks the second known human infection of H9N2 bird flu in India, with the first case reported in 2019.
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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