WHO confirms first fatal human case of H5N2 bird flu

A person died of bird flu in Mexico in the first confirmed case of a human infected with the H5N2 variant, the World Health Organization said Wednesday.

The 59-year old, who died on April 24 after developing fever, shortness of breath, diarrhea and nausea, had "no history of exposure to poultry or other animals" and "multiple underlying medical conditions", the WHO said in a statement.

The resident of the State of Mexico was hospitalized in Mexico City and died the same day, the statement said. The source of exposure to the virus was unknown, the WHO said, although cases of H5N2 have been reported in poultry in Mexico.