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Nos Estados Unidos, uma pessoa idosa faleceu devido à gripe aviária, após exposição a aves. O Departamento de Saúde avisa que o risco é maior para quem trabalha com aves. Em Portugal, um surto do vírus H5N1 ocorreu em uma vila perto de Lisboa. Além disso, a China enfrentava aumento em casos de HMPV.
Translation
In the United States, an elderly person has passed away due to bird flu after being exposed to birds. The Department of Health warns that the risk is higher for those who work with birds. In Portugal, an outbreak of the H5N1 virus occurred in a village near Lisbon. Additionally, China was experiencing an increase in HMPV cases.
Exercise: Text comprehension
Question 1: Where did the first US human death from avian flu happen?
In the United States, after exposure to birds.
Question 2: What advice did the Department of Health give?
They advised that the risk is higher for people who work with birds.
Exercise: Vocabulary
Read the full story
▌07/01/2025
The Department of Health in Louisiana has confirmed the first human death from avian flu in the United States. The deceased, an individual aged over 65, had been hospitalized since December 18 and suffered from "underlying health conditions," according to a statement from the department. Authorities indicated that the patient contracted the illness following exposure to non-commercial and wild birds.
While the public health risk remains low, the Department of Health warned that individuals working closely with birds or livestock, or those involved in recreational bird activities, face greater exposure risks. Nearly 70 cases of the virus have been reported in the US since April, primarily affecting agricultural workers in contact with sick birds or cattle, as noted by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
First US Human Death from Avian Flu Confirmed (Illustration)
The announcement coincides with a bird flu outbreak in Portugal, disclosed by the World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH). In São João das Lampas, a village in the Lisbon district, an outbreak of the H5N1 virus was identified in a flock of over 55,000 poultry, resulting in the demise of 279 birds. Control measures, including the culling of infected animals and thorough sanitation procedures, have been enacted.
Speaking on the situation, Francisco Goiana da Silva, a physician and commentator, noted that such outbreaks are not unprecedented and have become increasingly common globally, including in countries like Portugal and the United States. Emphasizing safety, he assured that properly cooked poultry remains safe as the virus does not survive at high temperatures. Nonetheless, he urged authorities to maintain vigilance.
Alongside these developments, China is experiencing a rise in cases of human metapneumovirus (HMPV). Although concerns about a new pandemic have surfaced, Goiana da Silva clarified that HMPV, circulating for decades, does not parallel COVID-19 in severity. The current strain seems more aggressive than its predecessors, drawing attention from Chinese health authorities, yet it is not deemed comparable to the coronavirus pandemic.
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