The Ministry of Health reported the first case of bird flu in humans in Chile. Although no further details have been specified in this regard, it was reported that the case occurred in the northern part of the country.
Specifically, the authorities announced that the sick person corresponds to a 53-year-old man, who was affected by severe influenza. Likewise, the Minsal indicated that the patient is stable within his severity.
The Minister of Health, Ximena Aguilera, explained that “it is a person who presented himself to a care service, with a picture of severe acute respiratory infection and who was hospitalized for this cause. When taking the tests and since we are in a situation of alert Due to this avian influenza epizootic condition, the influenza virus that could not be typed was identified”.
“The person has a serious case of pneumonia, is being treated in the hospital in what is called isolation. Remember that there has been no person-to-person transmission, however, universal precautionary measures are always maintained for the entire team health, but the person does not mean a risk of contagion for the rest of the staff. That person is being treated and will be until his condition improves,” he added.
As a result of the above, the respective health protocols established for the management of the disease were activated, and the corresponding tests were taken for analysis by the Public Health Institute (ISP), which confirmed that it is avian influenza. At the moment the source of contact is being investigated, and if there is a history of others affected in the patient’s environment.
After the news, the Undersecretary of Public Health, Andrea Albagli, asserted that “avian flu is not a disease transmitted by food. This means that it is safe to consume white meat and eggs from the established trade.” She added to this that “the risk is in animals, not in food consumption.”
“Avian flu is transmitted by handling sick animals, so what the community should do if it sees sick, dying or deceased animals, is to report it to the Agricultural and Livestock Service (SAG) to control the outbreak,” he added.
