Jerusalem Post This case highlights the significance of accurate diagnosis and timely treatment for co-infections involving respiratory viruses.
Researchers have identified a rare case of co-infection involving H5N1 avian influenza and the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), resulting in severe pneumonia. This discovery sheds light on simultaneous respiratory virus infections and underscores the importance of accurate diagnosis and timely treatment.
The case involves a 52-year-old woman from China who retired to a rural area. She experienced an ongoing fever lasting eight days, along with worsening shortness of breath and decreased blood pressure. Detailed lung scans, known as computed tomography (CT) scans, revealed significant abnormalities, indicating severe lung damage and inflammation.
Further investigation into the patient’s medical history revealed that she had been in contact with sick poultry, suggesting that she contracted the H5N1 avian influenza virus directly from the infected birds. This highlights the transmission of H5N1 avian influenza from animals to humans.