Health
Canada Records Its First Case of Human Avian Influenza
The health ministry of British Columbia, Canada, reports that the first probable human case of the avian influenza virus (H5N1) was found in a hospitalized teenager from the Fraser Valley. The adolescent tested positive for the virus, and health officials are investigating the source of exposure.
According to Provincial Health Officer Dr. Bonnie Henry, an investigation is underway to discover how the patient was infected, though the source is likely an animal or a bird. No other illnesses have shown evidence of person-to-person transmission. However, Dr. Bonnie warns that a pandemic may ensue if this occurs.
Since early October, at least 22 avian flu outbreaks in BC poultry have been documented, and multiple detections in wild birds throughout the province. In 2014, Canada reported an H5N1 death involving a Canadian who had just returned from a trip to China.
According to Health Canada, outbreaks of avian influenza A(H5N1) in domestic and wild birds, as well as some animals, have lately developed and spread throughout Europe and North America, including Canada, Central and South America, the sub-Antarctic areas, and Antarctica.
The Canadian government is now reacting to an influenza A (H5N1) outbreak in farmed birds and wildlife across the country.
Influenza A(H5N1) is a subtype of the avian influenza virus that primarily infects birds. It has also been found in other animals, resulting in rare and infrequent human infections.
Human instances of influenza A(H5N1) have predominantly resulted from zoonotic transmission by direct contact with infected birds (dead or alive) or polluted settings. Human-to-human transmission is extremely rare, and there is no evidence of ongoing transmission between humans.
The virus mostly affects the respiratory tract but can also produce gastrointestinal and central nervous system symptoms. Infection can cause severe sickness and even death.
