• UGI USER
  • Jun 12, 2024
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“SECOND HUMAN H9N2 BIRD FLU CASE CONFIRMED IN INDIA BY WHO”

Why in the news?

  • A human case of bird flu (H9N2) was detected in a four-year-old in West Bengal, marking the second such case in India.
  • The World Health Organization (WHO) reported the case, highlighting the child’s exposure to poultry and subsequent recovery after treatment.

Key facts:Avian Influenza Virus (H9N2):

  • Subtype: H9N2 is a subtype of the influenza A virus, causing human influenza and bird flu.
  • Only influenza A virus is divided into subtypes based on surface proteins hemagglutinin (H) and neuraminidase (N).
  • Distribution: Found worldwide in wild birds; endemic in poultry in many regions.
  • Origin: Poultry acts as a genetic incubator for the H9N2 virus, which can infect humans.
  • Range: Symptoms vary from mild, flu-like or eye inflammation to severe, acute respiratory disease or death.
source: researchgate
About World Health Organization (WHO):

  • Establishment: Founded on April 7, 1948.
  • Headquarters: Located in Geneva, Switzerland.
  • Objective: To promote health, keep the world safe, and serve the vulnerable.
  • Membership: 194 member states.
  • Key Reports: Publishes the World Health Report and Global Health Observatory data.
  • Programs: Includes initiatives for infectious diseases, non-communicable diseases, mental health, environmental health, and universal health coverage.

Associated Article:

https://universalinstitutions.com/the-spread-of-avian-influenza/