Via Monsal: The [Chilean] Ministry of Health reports the first case of bird flu in humans in Chile, reported in northern Chile.
The sick person corresponds to a 53-year-old man affected by a severe influenza case. The patient is stable within his gravity.
The health protocols established for the management of this disease were activated and the corresponding tests were taken for analysis by the Institute of Public Health (ISP), which confirmed that it is avian influenza.
The source of contact is investigated and whether there is a history of others affected in the patient’s environment.
The H5N1 virus or “bird flu” is a virus that can be transmitted from birds or marine mammals to humans, but there are no known cases of human-to-human transmission.
The Ministry of Health calls on citizens not to handle sick or dead birds or mammals and urges poultry workers to follow the corresponding safety protocols and to get vaccinated against seasonal influenza.
UPDATE 2 – 13 regions of Chile declared Preventive Early Warning zones for avian influenza
Senapred declared Friday night Preventive Early Alert in 13 regions of the country due to animal health events due to Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (H5N1).
The authority announced that the alert was declared in the regions of Arica and Parinacota, Tarapacá, Antofagasta, Atacama, Coquimbo, Valparaíso, Metropolitana, O’Higgins, Maule, Ñuble, Biobío, La Araucanía and Los Ríos.
SAG reported the reinforcement of the epidemiological surveillance network in people and treatment in study houses, application of prevention and control measures, as well as environmental surveillance.
Meanwhile, Sernapesca indicated that it is under active surveillance for the entire coastal strip due to the spread of the virus to marine mammals.
To date, the SAG has recorded 1,074 positive cases. Meanwhile, Sernapesca registered 2,093 dead stranded species, 1,535 sea lions and 730 penguins nationwide.
UPDATE 3 – 6th April 2023 – Healthcare worker has respiratory symptoms
“Three close contacts of the case were asymptomatic and tested negative for influenza and have concluded the monitoring period. Additionally, a total of nine contacts among health care workers were identified, all concluded the monitoring on 4 April, however on 5 April one of them developed respiratory symptoms, therefore, further testing is ongoing, and the period of monitoring was extended for 7 more days for this contact of the case.”
