Title: Chinese Woman Diagnosed with H5N1 Bird Flu and COVID-19, First Known Case of Co-Infection
Date: [Insert Date]
A 52-year-old woman in eastern China has become the first known case of co-infection with both H5N1 bird flu and COVID-19, according to a recent report. The woman, residing in a rural area in Anhui province, contracted H5N1 bird flu earlier this year after being exposed to sick poultry. She developed a fever on February 1 and was initially given antibacterial treatment.
As her symptoms worsened, the woman was transferred to a hospital in Jiangsu province, where further examination revealed alarming complications. She displayed a temperature of 39°C (102.2°F), severe shortness of breath, decreased blood pressure, air bronchogram, and lung consolidation.
Doctors at the First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University conducted extensive tests that initially came back negative for COVID-19, bacterial pathogens, fungal infections, tuberculosis, and common respiratory pathogens. However, three days after admission to the intensive care unit, advanced testing confirmed co-infection with H5N1 bird flu and SARS-CoV-2, the virus causing COVID-19.
To manage severe acute respiratory distress syndrome, the patient was placed on a non-invasive ventilator. The team of researchers treating her administered antiviral medication, resulting in improvements in inflammation indices and a reduction in temperature. After monitoring her progress for thirteen days, mechanical ventilation was discontinued, and corticosteroid treatment was stopped.
On early March, after twenty-seven days of hospitalization, the woman tested negative for both H5N1 bird flu and COVID-19, leading to her release from the hospital. Remarkably, no other family members contracted H5N1, indicating that the virus spread was limited to animal-to-human transmission, as she had been exposed to sick poultry.
The global spread of H5N1 clade 2.3.4.4b, coupled with recent infections in a growing number of mammals, has raised concerns over the potential development of a variant capable of human-to-human transmission. Until now, only a few cases of human infection after contact with infected birds have been reported.
Dr. Sylvie Briand, a World Health Organization (WHO) official, highlighted the seriousness of the global H5N1 situation and urged heightened vigilance from all countries. “WHO takes the risk from this virus seriously,” she stated on February 24.
As scientists and health officials continue to monitor the situation closely, this case highlights the importance of ongoing surveillance and preparedness measures to mitigate the potential impact of co-infections and avian influenza outbreaks on public health.