Thursday, 30 March 2023 | 16:02 WIB
Surya Lesmana/Chairul Fikri/LES
Cambodian health workers spray disinfectant in a village in Prey Veng, eastern province of Cambodia, February 24, 2023.
Santiago, Beritasatu.com – Chile detected the country’s first case of bird flu in humans, according to a report by its health ministry on Wednesday (29/3/2023).
The case was detected in a 53-year-old man who was showing severe influenza symptoms, according to a statement issued by the ministry, but the patient is in stable condition.
The government is also investigating the source of transmission as well as other people who have had contact with the patient.
Chile has reported cases of H5N1 bird flu since late last year in wild animals.
Recent cases in industrial farming led to the government halting poultry exports. Industrial cases were also detected in Argentina, but Brazil, the world’s biggest exporter of poultry, remains free of infection.
Chile’s health authorities noted the virus can be transmitted from birds or marine mammals to humans, but there is no known human-to-human transmission.
Earlier this year, Ecuador confirmed its first case of bird flu transmission to humans in a 9-year-old girl.
Global health officials say the risk of human-to-human transmission is low, but vaccine makers have prepared a shot of the bird flu vaccine for humans “just in case”.
# Bird flu# Case of Bird Flu# Cases of Bird Flu in Chile# Cases of Bird Flu in Humans
