3-Year-Old Mexican Girl Dies from Bird Flu, First Human Case in Mexico

Young Girl Dies from Bird Flu

Multiple Organ Failure Confirmed

First Human Case Reported

A 3-year-old Mexican girl with bird flu died on Tuesday in Coahuila, a state in northern Mexico.

According to EFE, her death was due to “multiple organ failure,” marking the first known human case of avian influenza in the country, health authorities confirmed.

“This morning we received confirmation of the unfortunate death of the 3-year-old girl,” said Coahuila’s Secretary of Health, Eliud Aguirre, to local media.

“She had been hospitalized at IMSS Hospital 71. The cause of death was multiple organ failure,” he stated.

Death from Bird Flu Confirmed

Girl Dies from Bird Flu in Mexico – PHOTO: Shutterstock

Just last Friday, the federal Health Ministry reported the first confirmed human case of avian or bird flu A (H5N1) in the girl from the neighboring state of Durango, following lab confirmation by the National Institute of Epidemiological Diagnosis and Reference (InDRE).

Secretary Aguirre stated that «the source of the girl’s infection has not yet been determined.»

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The child had been hospitalized in Torreón, one of the largest cities in northern Mexico, in the state of Coahuila.

The official said authorities are investigating other potential cases in the girl’s close contacts through monitoring and testing, but «no one has tested positive» so far.

“We remain on alert and continue monitoring to ensure no further cases appear, and so far, none have—especially here in Coahuila,” Aguirre commented.

Her death occurs amid growing international concern over the spread of bird flu.

In 2024, the United States reported 66 of the 81 global H5N1 human cases—the highest figure since 2015.

Most of these infections occurred in a previously undocumented manner: transmission from cattle to humans at dairy farms.

#BREAKING The young girl from Durango diagnosed with bird flu in Mexico has died from multi-organ failure https://t.co/kmitwi8eis pic.twitter.com/mdsoyggvo7

– El Universal (@el_universal_mx) April 8, 2025

The H5N1 virus is considered by experts to be one of the top candidates for causing a future pandemic if it mutates to spread effectively between humans.

In the Mexican case, Aguirre mentioned that one hypothesis under investigation is that a dust storm may have carried feces or waste from infected birds or cattle to the child.

He also confirmed that federal animal health authorities are inspecting poultry farms in the region.

The symptoms, he said, may include conjunctivitis, cough, very high fever, muscle pain, and difficulty breathing. He urged anyone experiencing such symptoms to seek medical attention immediately.