Ecuador confirms first human infection with bird flu in 9-year-old girl

QUITO, Jan 10 (Reuters) – Ecuador has reported its first case of human transmission of bird flu in a 9-year-old girl, the health ministry said on Tuesday, marking a rare case of human infection a month later. that the country has declared an animal health emergency.

Avian flu human disease infections range from no symptoms to mild illness to severe illness resulting in death, according to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, which said spread between humans is very rare.

Bird flu wiped out tens of millions of birds across the United States last year, which reported a first human case last April. Many birds were culled to prevent the spread of the disease.

Ecuador’s health ministry said humans and animals in the area where the child was infected in the central province of Bolivar were being closely monitored for transmission.

He did not report on the girl’s condition.

“It is presumed that the infection occurred through direct contact with birds carrying the virus,” the ministry added. “So far, no other cases have been reported in humans.”

Ecuador declared a animal health emergency end of November and an epidemiological alert in December after the detection of an outbreak in the provinces of Cotopaxi and Bolivar, where thousands of birds were slaughtered to contain the disease.

The government has assured that the consumption of eggs and chicken meat does not pose a risk to human health. It recommended strengthening “biosecurity” measures and seeking medical help in case of flu-related symptoms.

Reporting by Alexandra Valence; Written by Carolina Pulice; Editing by Sarah Morland and Leslie Adler

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