The Mexican citizen who died from the H5N2 variant had no known contact with poultry.

On Wednesday, a Mexican laboratory confirmed world’s first-ever human case and death from H5N2, a strain of avian influenza virus that had only been detected in animals until now.

The first human death from H5N2 is an isolated case that should not cause “extreme concern” but does require increased monitoring of farms to minimize contact between infected animals and people, explained Doctor Luis Buzon, spokesperson for the Spanish Society of Infectious Diseases and Clinical Microbiology (SEIMC).

Avian influenza is an infectious disease of birds, caused by type A influenza virus strains. These birds can infect humans, though it is not common, with fewer than 1,000 cases recorded worldwide. Human-to-human transmission does not exist so far.

If it were to occur, “a new pandemic could arise because these viruses are 100 percent new to humans,” Buzon stated, explaining that there is no immediate scenario for human-to-human transmission because “that would require a series of actions that are highly costly for the virus. Obviously, the more cases there are and the more contact there is between infected humans, the more easily that could happen.”

Currently, the virus is only spreading among birds and other animals like seals or cows, which become hosts. Since 2003, the World Health Organization (WHO) has only recorded 889 cases of avian influenza in humans and 463 deaths caused by the H5N1 strain, which has been known for more than 20 years. The last three human deaths from H5N1 occurred in the United States in April.

The most common way the virus is introduced into a territory is through migratory wild birds. The WHO acknowledged that the spread of the H5N1 variant to mammals and humans is concerning and called for close monitoring of this development.

The main risk factor for human infection is exposure to infected poultry, live or dead, or to contaminated environments, such as live bird markets. Other risk factors include slaughtering, plucking, and handling carcasses of infected poultry, and preparing birds for consumption, particularly in households.

The 59-year-old man who died from the H5N2 had no known contact with poultry and presented symptoms such as fever, difficulty breathing, diarrhea, nausea, and general malaise. Some of these symptoms are similar to those of human influenza, making it difficult to identify the H5N2-related influenza.

The proposal does not convince the presidential advisors, who run the risk of not fulfilling their promises to the representatives of the sectors and organizations that supported them.

On Friday, the idea of Haiti’s interim Prime Minister Garry Conille to reduce the number of ministries in the new government is generating a new stage of disagreement in the political arena of the Caribbean country.

The members of the Presidential Transitional Council (CPT) expressed their disagreement with this initiative, which leaves the number of incumbents between 11 and 13, when it was expected that there would be 18 portfolio heads.

The proposal does not convince the presidential advisors, who run the risk of not fulfilling their promises to the representatives of the sectors and organizations that supported them.

Hence the open conflict between the two parties, just four days after Conille officially took up his duties after returning from abroad, according to the online newspaper Le Facteur Haiti.

In this sense, some politicians believe that the measure could contribute to the smooth running of the country if the money allocated to these ministries, now to be eliminated, were to be used for social services, in order to assist people affected by the serious socio-economic crisis.

It is customary for some ministries to become instruments used by certain sectors to act to the detriment of others, and to make their political capital, without offering anything to the Haitian nation, points out the daily Le National.

Hence, the reduction in the number of transitional ministers can reduce waste within the public administration. All this conflict – according to local media – will mean that the process of forming a government will take longer than expected.

None of the vessels carry nuclear weapons, so their stopover in Havana does not pose a threat to the region, Cuban diplomacy stated.

On Thursday, the Cuban Foreign Affairs Ministry confirmed that three Russian ships and a nuclear submarine will visit Havana between June 12 and 17.

More specifically, the Russian detachment consists of the frigate Gorshkov, the submarine Kazan, the fleet oiler Pashin, and the rescue tugboat Nikolai Chiker.

“This visit aligns with the historic friendship relations between Cuba and Russia, and strictly adheres to international regulations to which Cuba is a State party. None of the vessels carry nuclear weapons, so their stopover in our country does not pose a threat to the region,” Cuban diplomacy stated.

“The visits of naval units from other countries are a historic practice of the revolutionary government with nations with which we maintain friendly and collaborative relations,” it added.

During their stay, the Russian sailors will follow a program of activities that includes courtesy visits to the Head of the Revolutionary Navy and the Governor of Havana.

“When the Russian vessels arrive at the port of Havana, 21 salvos will be fired from one of the ships in the fleet as a salute to the nation, which will be reciprocated by an artillery battery of the Revolutionary Armed Forces from the Fortress of San Carlos de La Cabaña,” detailed the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

On this occasion, the Russian ships will not conduct any military exercises in Cuban waters. Previously, in February 2023, the frigate Gorshkov participated in joint exercises between Russia, South Africa, and China. It has also participated in drills between China, Iran, and Russia in the Gulf of Oman.