India has reported the first human death caused by bird flu. A boy aged 11, who was admitted to AIIMS on July 2, was reported dead due to bird flu on Tuesday. 

Contact tracing is undergoing to find people who might have been in close proximity with the boy. Sources said that the resident of Haryana was admitted to AIIMS complaining of high fever and cough on July 2. He was suspected of having COVID-19. However, when the tests came out negative, further investigation revealed that he was suffering from an infection caused by the influenza virus of bird origin.

India has been through several outbreaks of avian influenza over the past 15 years, largely affecting poultry. However, there has been no known case of human death. Public health specialists are alarmed.

National Centre for Disease Control is working on contact tracing of anyone who may have come in contact with the patient. The doctors, nurses and healthcare workers involved in the boy’s treatment have also been advised to isolate themselves and report any symptoms.

Efforts are on to determine the strain of the influenza virus. A doctor from AIIMS said that bird flu was rare in humans; however, if it affects someone, the risk of death was high. According to studies,death rate of bird flu in humans is around 60%, stated the doctor.

While the risk of bird flu spreading to humans is very rare, precautions must still be taken. 

Source: ET Healthworld