Mexico’s Ministry of Health head Jorge Alcocer on Wednesday denied reports that a citizen had died from a strain of the bird flu, which had marked the first time that a human had died from the H5N2 virus.

Alcocer said that the WHO statement was "quite bad," according to La Verdad News, stating that the cause of death has not been confirmed. He noted that the patient suffered from type 2 diabetes, chronic kidney disease, and systemic arterial hypertension, all things that could have contributed to the 59-year-old man’s death.

Alcocer urged citizens not to panic, and said there was no reason to avoid consuming chicken or chicken products, as there was no evidence that the infection spread through food.

On Wednesday the World Health Organization said that the man died on April 24 after developing nausea, shortness of breath, diarrhea, and general discomfort. The WHO said that the victim had no history of exposure to poultry or other animals. The person reportedly had underlying medical conditions and had been bedridden for weeks prior to the onset of symptoms.

The WHO said that the case had been laboratory-confirmed, and the first case of its kind reported globally.