New Delhi: Chile on Wednesday reported the first case of bird flu in a human, the country's health ministry reported. The patient, a 53-year-old man, exhibited severe influenza symptoms but is currently in stable condition, according to a statement issued by the ministry, reported news agency Reuters.
The government is conducting an investigation to determine the source of the infection and identify others who may have been in contact with the patient.
Chile has reported cases of the H5N1 bird flu in wild animals since late last year, according to Reuters.
As a result of recent cases in industrial farms, the government has halted poultry exports. While industrial cases have also been detected in Argentina, Brazil, the world's largest exporter of poultry, has not reported any cases of the contagion.
According to Chilean health authorities, the virus can be transmitted to humans from birds or marine mammals, but there is currently no evidence of human-to-human transmission.
Last week, Chilean authorities reported a bird flu outbreak at an industrial facility in the Maule region in the southern part of the country, reported Reuters.
"This finding was made after a complaint made to the Maule SAG (agriculture and livestock agency) about an increase in mortality on the farm of around 70 birds and another 60 that were symptomatic of the virus," the Ministry of Agriculture said in a statement.
The statement said the birds, which were egg producers, in the industrial plant were sacrificed. The center had between 4,000 to 5,000 specimens.
Earlier this year, Ecuador confirmed its first case of human transmission of bid flu in a 9-year-old girl. Global health officials have said the risk of transmission between humans is low, but vaccine makers have been preparing bird flu shots for humans "just in case."
Outbreaks of the Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza virus have been reported in at least 14 Latin American countries.