Chile Detects First Case Of Bird Flu In Humans A Week After The Discovery Of An Outbreak In Livestock

Illustration. (Wikimedia Commons/Richard Nyberg/USAIDVietnam)

JAKARTA - Chile's Ministry of Health on Wednesday reported having detected the first case of bird flu in humans, a week after reports of an outbreak on one of the country's farms.

The case was detected in a 53-year-old man showing severe influenza symptoms, according to a statement issued by the ministry, although his condition remains stable.

The ministry further said the government was investigating the source of transmission and also other people who had contact with the patient.

Chile's health authorities noted that this virus can be transmitted from birds or marine mammals to humans, but there is no human-to-human transmission.

Previously, Chile had reported cases of H5N1 bird flu since late last year on wild animals. Cases that have recently occurred in the livestock industry have caused the government to stop poultry exports.

"This finding was obtained after complaints were submitted to Maule SAG (farm and livestock agency), regarding the increase in the death of around 70 poultry on the farm and another 60 poultry, which showed symptoms of the virus," the Chilean Ministry of Agriculture said in a statement, as quoted by Wionews.

Cases on farms were also detected in Argentina, but Brazil, the world's largest exporter of poultry, is still free from transmission.

It is known that at least 14 Latin American countries have reported an outbreak of the Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza virus.

Earlier this year, Ecuador confirmed cases of bird flu transmission in humans that first occurred in a 9-year-old girl.

Meanwhile, global health officials say that the risk of inter-human transmission is low, but vaccine makers have prepared avian flu shot for humans "in case."