Ecuador: first case of avian influenza in a nine-year-old girl
11 January, 2023
The Ministry of Public Health of Ecuador reports 1st human case of highly pathogenic avian influenza H5N1 (clade 2.3.4.4b) in Ecuador. The case is a 9-year-old girl presumed to have had direct contact with infected poultry.
The patient is currently hospitalized in a pediatric intensive care unit, in isolation and with antiviral and supportive treatment at the Baca Ortiz Pediatric Hospital in Quito.
Until last December, it was estimated that more than 300,000 birds were infected HPAI H5N1.
Globally, six other human influenza A H5N1 2.3.4.4b infections had been reported in China, Vietnam, the U.K., Spain (2), and Colorado during 2022-2023.
