A man in northern Chile has tested positive for H5N1 bird flu, the health ministry reported on Wednesday, amid growing concern about the strain of avian influenza which has spread around the world.

The health ministry said the 53-year-old man, from the coastal city of Tocopilla, is currently in serious but stable condition with severe pneumonia. It was not immediately known how he was infected.

https://bnonews.com/index.php/2023/03/chile-reports-human-case-of-h5n1-bird-flu/

Globally, this is the 11th human case of H5N1 reported since January 2022. The prior 10 H5N1 cases all had exposure to poultry. The source of H5N1 virus infection for the patient in Chile is part of an ongoing investigation. A respiratory specimen from the Chile case-patient is being sent to CDC for confirmation and additional testing. In the U.S., one H5N1 case was reported in person who reported fatigue without any other symptoms after poultry culling activities.

https://www.cdc.gov/flu/avianflu/spotlights/2022-2023/chile-first-case-h5n1.htm

map update

https://www.google.com/maps/d/u/1/edit?mid=1E2wqF61M_F0pc9zOvoEs075hbeDW_Lot&ll=-22.09267342640218%2C-70.19940826833115&z=15

Edited March 31, 20233 yr by niman