The Canadian Ministry of Health announced that officials Health in British Columbia Canadians are investigating what is believed to be the first human case of bird flu in Canada after a teenager tested positive for the disease.
The teen, who the ministry says is from the Fraser Health region, is currently receiving care at B.C. Children’s Hospital while officials work to confirm the diagnosis and trace potential sources of exposure.
According to the statement, avian influenza is a virus that primarily affects birds but can sometimes spread to humans through contact with infected animals or contaminated environments.
First case in Canada
Dr. Bonnie Henry, British Columbia’s provincial health officer, says this case represents the first time a person in Canada has been infected with the H5 avian influenza virus, to their knowledge, although isolated cases have been reported in the United States and other countries.
Henry said a comprehensive investigation is underway to understand how the virus was contracted.
The ministry noted that public health officials are tracing the patient’s contacts to monitor symptoms and provide guidance on testing and prevention measures.
No other human cases have been identified so far in connection with this incident.
Dr. Isaac Bogoch, an infectious disease specialist at Toronto General Hospital, told CBC News the virus is of particular concern because it has the potential to cause “significant clinical harm” to humans.
Human infections are rare.
While human infections with bird flu are rare, Health Canada says symptoms can range from mild to severe, potentially leading to pneumonia, organ failure and even death.
Since 1997, more than 900 human cases have been reported worldwide, mostly in Asia and Africa, and about half have resulted in death, according toTo the Canadian Ministry of Health.
However, the government warns that this death rate may be overestimated, as mild cases of infection can often go undetected and unreported.
According to the Toronto-based doctor, the bird flu outbreak in the United States has already resulted in at least 44 human cases, though he said that may be a “gross underestimate.”
Avian Flu Outbreak in British Columbia
According to the federal government, only one human case of A(H5N1) infection has been reported in Canada, and a Canadian resident died of A(H5N1) avian influenza in early 2014 after returning from a trip to China, where he likely became infected.
Since early October, H5N1 has been detected in animals at multiple locations in British Columbia, including 22 poultry farms and in a variety of wild birds and small mammals.
In light of the confirmed cases among animals in British Columbia, officials are urging residents to avoid direct contact with sick or dead animals, keep pets away from affected wildlife, and report any dead or sick birds or mammals to provincial authorities.
