Eliud Aguirre Vázquez, Secretary of Health of Coahuila, reported that the three-year-old girl who contracted H5N1 avian influenza in Torreón died this morning due to various ailments caused by the illness.
In an interview with various media outlets, the state official explained that the girl died at Hospital 71 of the Mexican Social Security Institute (IMSS) due to multiple organ failure.
“Yes, very early this morning we received confirmation of the unfortunate death of the three-year-old girl who was hospitalized at Social Security Hospital 71.
“The cause of death was organ failure, which occurred during the illness; it was multiple organ failure,” she said in an interview with the media.
Aguirre Vázquez stated that since the minor’s case was confirmed, which was the first human infection with avian flu in Mexico, efforts have been maintained in coordination with the federal government to detect more suspected cases in the Comarca Lagunera.
She specified that epidemiological surveillance is primarily being maintained for those close to the minor, including her neighbors, but so far no further suspected cases have been detected.
“We have been monitoring since the beginning of the child’s hospitalization, taking the appropriate actions with the health sector. To date, we have not found any other suspected cases. We continue to take action to continue verifying that we do not have any such problems in the Comarca Lagunera.”
“We are looking for suspected cases. Monitoring is being done for all people who had close contact with the patient. Tests are being done to determine whether they are infected. No one has tested positive. Monitoring is being done around the home, looking for suspected cases. We are in coordination with the federal government,” he added.
The state health secretary indicated that federal health authorities continue to inspect and conduct tests at poultry farms.
He pointed out that it is still unknown how the minor became infected; however, he called on the general public to wear face masks as a preventative measure, as he did not rule out the possibility that the virus could be transmitted by wind from bird droppings.
“The source of the contagion itself is still unclear, but viruses are present within the dust devils, in the bird droppings and everything. It could be that the dust devil itself, through air currents, can be inhaled, and that’s a means of transmission.
“To date, there has been no confirmation. They are still studying the cause of the contagion in this case. In this time of dust devils, wind, and everything, wear a mask, not just for this case but for all types of illnesses. We remain on alert and continue to monitor for further cases,” he concluded.
Source: infobae
