A new strain of bird flu, previously unseen in humans, has resulted in the death of a man in Mexico.

The World Health Organization confirmed that the patient, who was hospitalized in Mexico City, was infected with the H5N2 strain of avian influenza.

According to a WHO report, the organization was informed of the human infection on May 23. The patient was a 59-year-old resident of Mexico with multiple health conditions.

The patient was bedridden for three weeks before showing acute symptoms of avian flu. On April 17, he began experiencing fever, shortness of breath, diarrhea, nausea and general malaise. He died April 24.

In response, the WHO probed 17 people who had close contact with the deceased. Only one of them reported having a runny nose.

The death comes shortly after Australia recorded its first human case of a virulent bird flu strain in a child who became ill after returning from overseas. The child contracted the H5N1 strain, which has been spreading globally and causing significant bird deaths. The child, who returned to Victoria from India in March, suffered a severe infection but has since fully recovered, according to Victoria’s chief health officer.

“This is the first human case of H5N1 avian influenza in Australia,” Dr. Clare Looker said, according to The Mirror. “The avian influenza virus was detected through further testing of positive influenza samples that take place to detect novel or concerning flu virus strains, as part of Victoria’s enhanced surveillance system.”

“Contact tracing has not identified any further cases of avian influenza connected to this case,” she added, noting that the strain of bird flu does not easily spread among humans.

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