Health Minister Ximena Aguilera referred to the first case of bird flu detected in humans in Chile. It was reported in the north of the country.
The health minister explained that it was detected in a 53-year-old male “who had a case of severe influenza and a compromised lower respiratory tract. As a result of the protocols we have in place, the causative agent was sought, which in this case was influenza. When it was unable to be classified, it was sent to the Public Health Institute, where it was identified as the H5N1 virus, which is the avian strain.”
With regard to the patient, the health minister indicated that he is hospitalized and stable despite the severity of his condition.
“Epidemiology teams are currently deployed on the ground to investigate the source of contagion,” the minister reported. She explained that the avian influenza virus is transmitted through contact with sick animals that normally die as a result of the disease. However, “it is also increasingly affecting marine mammals throughout the continent, such as sealions, which are sometimes found by people on the beach.”
Minister Aguilera stressed the importance of strengthening prevention measures in the case of finding dead birds or marine animals. This means to avoid approaching them and to call the telephone numbers of the relevant services. They are: the Agricultural and Livestock Service (SAG) (2 2345 1100), in the case of birds; and the National Fisheries Service (SERNAPESCA) (800 320 032), in the case of marine animals.
“At present, there has been no person-to-person transmission of avian influenza; the risk to humans is therefore restricted to those who are in contact with sick animals. However, those who become infected can present serious symptoms. That is why it is important to have our systems on alert as we have, which effectively led to the detection of symptoms in this person. It is expected to only be sporadic in humans,” the health minister stressed.
For more information you can visit the avian influenza website.