BC is investigating the first suspected case of bird flu caught in Canada

Health officials in British Columbia are investigating what is believed to be the first human case of bird flu caught in Canada after a teenager is believed to have tested positive for the disease, the health ministry announced Saturday.

The teenager, who the ministry says is from the Fraser Health region, is currently receiving care at BC Children’s Hospital while officials work to confirm the diagnosis and track potential sources of exposure.

According to the statement, bird flu – also known as bird flu – is a virus that primarily affects birds, but can occasionally be spread to humans through contact with infected animals or contaminated environments.

BC’s Provincial Health Officer, Dr. Bonnie Henry, says the case is the first time H5 bird flu has been caught by someone in Canada, as far as they know, although there have been isolated cases reported in the United States and other countries.

“Our thoughts are with this young person and their family at this difficult time,” she said.

Henry said a thorough investigation is underway to understand how the virus may have been contracted.

The ministry noted that public health officials are tracing contacts of the patient to monitor for symptoms and to provide guidance on testing and prevention measures.

Currently, no other human cases have been identified in connection with this incident.

Dr. Isaac Bogoch, an infectious disease specialist at Toronto General Hospital, said the virus is of particular concern because it has the potential to cause “significant clinical harm” in humans.

“This has been a virus that has been on the radar to cause epidemics or potential pandemics,” he told CBC News.

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BC detects first suspected human case of bird flu caught in Canada

Health officials in British Columbia said Saturday they are investigating what is believed to be the first human case of bird flu caught in Canada after a teenager allegedly tested positive for the disease. Dr. Isaac Bogoch, an infectious disease specialist, breaks down what that means and what precautions people can take.

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, over 900 human cases have been reported globally, primarily in Asia and Africa, with about half of them resulting in death, according to Health Canada. However, the government warns that this death rate may be overestimated, as mild infections can often go undetected and underreported.

Another part of what makes the virus worrisome, Bogoch said, is its ability to “reassort” — or swap genes — to make it easier to transmit.

According to the Toronto-based doctor, bird flu outbreaks in the United States have already led to at least 44 human cases, although he said this may be a “gross underestimate.”

“We know that political borders do not stop the spread of infectious diseases, and of course this can happen in Canada and elsewhere in the world,” he added.

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Human avian influenza cases linked to outbreaks in dairy cattle in the United States

A person in Texas who had close contact with infected dairy cattle has been diagnosed with bird flu. It is the country’s second known human case after the virus was first discovered circulating among dairy cows in at least four US states.

According to federal governmentthere has only been one human case of A(H5N1) ever reported in Canada. A Canadian resident died of avian influenza A(H5N1) in early 2014 after returning from a trip to China where they were likely infected.

Since early October, the H5N1 virus has been detected in animals at numerous sites in BC, including 22 poultry farms and in a number of wild birds and small mammals such as foxes and skunks.

Earlier this week, Vancouver Island’s health authority warned residents about a possible exposure to bird flu at a petting farm in Campbell River.

In light of the confirmed animal cases in BC, 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.